Confusion in OAUTH as FG Appoints Three Acting CMDs

By Adenitan Akinola 

There is uneasy calm at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, following appointment of two persons as acting Chief Medical Directors for the hospital within one week.

Sources in the hospital said Prof. Oladiran Adegbehingbe, was made the new acting CMD of the hospital in a letter dated 22nd of June, 2023, signed by Hassan Sallahu, Director Human Resources on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.

Professor Adegbehingbe, was said to have assumed duty immediately he got the letter and was even at the Ministry of Health in Abuja on Monday where he was introduced to the officials.

The letter appointing Professor Adegbehingbe as acting CMD further read, “I am directed to convey the approval of the Permanent Secretary for your appointment as Acting Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, with effect from Tuesday, 20th June, 2023.

“The appointment is for a period of six (6) months within which all processes for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) would be initiated and concluded by the Ministry.

“Similarly, and in the spirit of the agreement reached between you and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and other Unions of the Hospital, you are exempted from participating in the race for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director.”

However, on Friday, Prof. Afolabi Owojuyigbe, who succeeded the last substantive CMD of the hospital, Prof Victor Adetiloye, returned to the hospital, with another letter dated 27th June, 2023,  which addressed him as the Acting CMD written by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Adebiyi Olufunso. 

The letter directs Professor Owojuyigbe to stabilize the hospital and hand over its management to Dr Adekunle Adeyemo, who was directed to take over in acting capacity on or before Friday July 7, 2023.

It further read, ” I have approved the appointment of Dr. Adeyemo Adekunle, the Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) of the Hospital as Acting Chief Medical Director who will be in this capacity for a maximum period of six months, in line with Public Service Rules. 

“You are therefore directed to handover the affairs of the hospital on or before Friday, 7th July, 2023 to the DCMAC OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.”

A consultant in the hospital, who revealed the letters and spoke to our correspondent in confidence  on Saturday said the tension generated by the presence of three personnel having appointment letters as CMD was already having negative toll on the services in the hospital.

“OAUTH is already in a chaotic situation presently. We have three CMDs presently and curiously, two of them were appointed in the last 7 days by the PS Ministry of Health. Something urgent must be done because the tension is on the rise presently,” the Consultant said. 

Efforts to get reaction from the management of the hospital failed, as calls to its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Kemi Fasooto, rang out and she has not replied to messages sent to her on the matter as of the time of filing this report on Sunday.

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