Acting Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital CMD allegedly thwarts efforts to appoint substantive CMD
The acting Chief Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital Calabar, Dr. Theo Osim, has allegedly blocked all efforts to replace him.
This allegation was made by the Senior Staff Associations of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI, on Monday in the hospital premises when they protested, bearing assorted placards with different messages.
They accused Osim of flouting the ministry’s directive on the appointment of a substantive CMD, including victimisation, high-handedness, and harassment of staff.
They noted that Osim has acted as CMD since March 2024, but has deliberately, on several occasions, flouted the directive to advertise for the same position, including a recent directive dated 14th May 2025.
Sector Chairman of SSAUTHRIAI, ComKen Bassey, said, “The letter, which was signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, by Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services, gave the CMD six weeks to place the advert.
“As we speak, he has not acted on that directive just the same way he has always acted as if he is bigger than the ministry.
“We have been victimised, harassed, suppressed, and intimidated by the same man for daring to speak out for the right thing to be done in this hospital.
“Not only are our members issued queries arbitrarily, but we have also been sent to jail, suspended, and our salaries stopped without due process.
“We have been very peaceful, law-abiding, but today, we are saying enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate this executive rascality,” he stated.
Denying allegations of high-handedness, Osim said he has always acted based on the provisions of the law.
Osim denied ever flouting the directive of the Ministry of Health to advertise for the appointment of a substantive CMD.
“It is not true that I refused to advertise. In fact, this matter is before the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health. Everything has processes, and I am following due process.
“Like I said, you have every right to protest, and I won’t deny you that right because at the end of the day, we will all sit at a table to dialogue on these contentious issues.”
Acting Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital CMD allegedly thwarts efforts to appoint substantive CMD
