By Akinwale Kasali
The Joint Health Sector Union, JHSU, which comprises of NANNM, NUAP, MHWUN and SSAUTHRIA of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, has indicted the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Dr. Oluwayemisi Cecilia Ogun, of misappropriation of funds and financial recklessness. The Union , also, accuses her of contravening the Public Service Rule on retirement.
In a statement signed by Comrade Yusuf Adeyemi, Chairman of MHWUN, Comrade Eke Uzondu, Chairman of NUAP, Comrade John Oye of SSAUTHRIA and Comrade Olaoni Fatimetu, NANNM alleged that Ogun has refused to vacate her office as the CMD despite clocking the mandatory retirement age of 60years since September 23, 2019.
This, the group says contravenes and, is in deviance to, the Public Service Rules (PSR) 0202810 of Chapter two (2) in relations to retirement, which states,
“The Compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of Pensionable service whichever is earlier, and no officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years”.
The group also alleged that the process for the appointment of a Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric hospital Yaba in 2017, was skewed to favour the appointment of Dr. Ogun, owing to her affinity with the immediate past Minister of Health, Dr Isaac Adewole, who disregarded the rules as advertised.
The group stressed that the rules prescribed the eligibility criteria of not being above the age of Fifty Five Years (55) as at the time of applying for the position of Medical Director, as opposed to the regular standard obtainable for the appointment of medical directors across board for other Federal Medical Institutions in Nigeria.
Following the aforementioned rules, the group stated that her appointment, specifically, violated the 6th requirement for the position as advertised at the time that “candidate must not be more than fifty five (55) years of age, in which Dr. Ogun was already 58 years old when she was appointed.
Notwithstanding, the circumstances of her appointment, it has now elapsed.
The statement also said the CMD clocked 60 on 23rd September, and ought to have commenced her terminal leave as required by law. Instead, she has allegedly resorted to lobbying high level officers of the Ministry of Health, to extend her tenure, by referring to an already suspended circular by Mr. President on tenureship which is an affront to the anti-corruption agenda of the Federal Government.
As regards Financial Misappropriation and financial recklessness allegations, the group alleged that Dr. Ogun has been outsourcing the account department without going through the necessary procedures, which is strongly against the Financial regulation of the establishment.
Dr. Ogun was alleged to have been invited by the Force Criminal Investigate Department, CID, Alagbon, Lagos, to answer questions bothering on allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
It is alleged that in 2018, she single-handedly bought a vehicle worth N40million with funds meant for another purpose despite having two functional official vehicles.
The group also alleged that she bought a personal 2019 model Camry car worth 26million naira without following due process.
The magazine visited the hospital to have a chat with Dr. Ogun on the allegations levelled against her, but all efforts proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
