There has been confusion at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, following the appointment of two persons as acting Chief Medical Directors for the facility within one week.
Sources in the hospital said Prof Oladiran Adegbehingbe was made the acting CMD of the hospital in a letter dated June 22, 2023, signed by Hassan Sallahu, Director Human Resources, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.
Adegbehingbe was said to have assumed duty immediately he got the letter and was even at the ministry in Abuja on Monday where he was introduced to the officials.
The letter appointing him as the acting CMD 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, June 20, 2023.
“The appointment is for a period of six (6) months within which all processes for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director 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 and other unions of the hospital, you are exempted from participating in the race for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director.”
But on Friday, Prof Afolabi Owojuyigbe, who succeeded the last substantive CMD, Prof Victor Adetiloye, returned to the hospital with another letter dated June 27, 2023, which addressed him as the acting CMD written by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Adebiyi Olufunso.
The letter asked Owojuyigbe to stabilise 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 read, “I have approved the appointment of Dr Adeyemo Adekunle, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee 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 hand over the affairs of the hospital on or before Friday, July 7, 2023 to the DCMAC OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.”