University Of Porthacourt Teaching Hospital Stops Salaries Of 1000 Staff, Declare 2000 Missing

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, said they have embargoed the salaries and emoluments of 1000 staff.

This is as they informed that only 2000, out of about 4000 staffers that have been drawing salaries are actually on the ground.

The Chief Medical Director CMB, Prof Chituru Orluwene, who disclosed this at an interactive session with the media on Monday April 13, 2026, to mark his 100 days in office ,noted that the institution has plugged all observed leakages within the management architecture.

According to him, at the inception of his administration, the hospital did not have a standard staff nominal roll. He noted noting that about 4000 staff were on the payroll..

However, after a preliminary examination , according to him, only 2000 out of the 4000 on the payroll were discovered to be real workers.

Prof Orluwene said the shocking discovery led to the management ordering a formal verification exercise  with the committee only able to verify 2000 workers.

He explained that after an initial examination of the report of the verification committee,  hospital management decided to stop the salaries of 1000 of the 2000 unaccounted workers ”

“When we resumed office early in the year, we found 4000 staff on the payroll. But only 2,000 tlof them were actually on the ground .

“Sequel to this development, we initiated a verification exercise; a process that will also help us get a nominal roll for the hospital because when we assumed office, we did not meet any on the ground.

“Suffice it to say that the exercise has assisted us recovering so much . We have stopped the salaries of over 1000 persons .

“When this report gets to the Federal Government, they will have to employ people who are ready to work”, the CMD added.

According to him ,the hospital has equally recorded a huge success in its quest to block revenue leakages and diversion of public funds within the system.

He emphasized that the prudent measures are in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration .

This was as he informed that his management has directed a downward review of hospital and mortuary bills to accommodate the interests of the less privileged.

The CMD added that his administration has introduced an in-patient feeding arrangement with charges for three meals for a day pegged at N5000.