Workers of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, have clashed with the hospital’s acting Chief Medical Director, Dr. Theophilus Osim, accusing him of victimisation, harassment, and intimidation.
The staff, through its union, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), has also blamed the chief medical director for issuing them queries arbitrarily.
The workers made these known during a protest to register their grievances at the hospital’s premises, including flouting the ministry’s directive on the appointment of a substantive chief medical director.
The staff who were armed with placards of various inscriptions also accused the chief medical director of high-handedness and sending them to jail, suspension, and withholding their salaries without due process.
The union noted that Dr. Osim, who has been in an acting capacity since March 2024, has deliberately, on several occasions, flouted the directive to advertise for the same position.
According to the Sector Chairman of the SSAUTHRIAI, Comrade Ken Bassey, who is also a staff member of the health institution, the recent directive was issued through a letter dated 14th May, 2025.
“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.
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“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,” Comrade Bassey further said.
He added that they have been victimized for daring to speak out for the right thing to be done in this hospital.
He said that they have been very peaceful, law-abiding, but can no longer tolerate what he called ”executive rascality” than to say that enough is enough.
Meanwhile, Dr. Osim has sued for peace from the union, noting that their agitations are not out of place.
He, however, corrected the impression that he flouted the directives of the Ministry of Health to advertise for the appointment of a substantive chief medical director for the hospital.
“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,” Dr. Osim said.
