It was another show of rage as Staff of Federal Medical Centre once again took to the streets of Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of their Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakwem.
The em-passe bedeviling the institution has been on for about two months as the workers on protest insisted that Uwakwem should adhere to the FMC board’s decision to step aside and allow investigating into all the allegations made against her.
The protesters, in black clothes, clustered at the main entrance to the FMC, displaying placards with various inscriptions such as, “The MD must resign” and “Workers will not work until she goes,” while chanting solidarity songs and praying God to listen to their plea.
Lending credence to this charge was the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals , Owerri chapter, Clifford Ezeugo, who accused the embattled MD of gross financial misconduct, including signing and collecting Over Time.
Citing the Civil Service Rule, he said that Over Time is meant for civil servants on levels one to 14, while the MD is on 17. He further alleged that Uwakwem varied about N242 million of personnel cost to capital cost, owes promotion arrears from 2013 to 2014, and engages in employment racketeering.”
According to him, “based on these, members of staff have been agitating that the MD be investigated.” He assured that if she proceeds on compulsory leave as recommended and is investigations, the workers would resume work.
