President Bola Tinubu has been called upon to address the controversial dismissal of Prof. Monday Igwe, the former Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu (FNHE). The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) strongly condemned the termination, which they described as “corporate rascality,” accusing the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare of violating the directives of the House of Representatives Committee on Petitions.
An investigation by the House of Representatives revealed that President Tinubu was misled, resulting in the wrongful dismissal of Prof. Igwe. The seven-member investigative team found the accusations against Prof. Igwe baseless and recommended his immediate reinstatement. Despite this, the Minister reportedly ignored the House’s directive and initiated interviews to appoint a new Medical Director, sparking concerns of bias.
Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, President of the CSGGG, expressed outrage over the Minister’s actions, which allegedly included attempts to install Dr. Ngozichukwu Unaogu as the new director, despite her failing the selection process. The group has urged President Tinubu to step in, warning that the Minister’s actions could lead to significant unrest in the healthcare sector and among civil society organizations.
The CSGGG further suggested that Prof. Igwe’s dismissal was motivated by a vendetta against his efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and implement institutional reforms at FNHE. The House committee, chaired by Hon. Mike Etaba, also affirmed that the President had been misinformed and recommended that Prof. Igwe be reinstated without delay.