A group under the aegis of Good Life For Ijaw People (GLFIP) has slammed the Federal Government over the delay in the appointment of a substantive Medical Director for the Federal Medical Center,Yenagoa in Bayelsa State.
According to the group, despite the screening of three candidates with scores and recommendations made on who is most qualified to be appointed Medical Director of the institution by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Department of State Services, DSS and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, the President Tinubu led Federal Government remained reluctant to appoint a medical director to the detriment of the institution.
The President of the Good Life For Ijaw People (GLFIP), Chief Tamunoemi Mindiwari, in a Statement in Yenagoa, stated that since the completion of the two-term tenure of the former Medical Director, Dr Dennis Allagoa on the 10th of March, 2023 the Federal Government appointed an acting Medical Director to oversea the affairs of the hospital thereby playing politics with the health of Ijaw people.
He explained that the powers of the acting Medical Director were limited, adding that for the hospital to operate optimally for better healthcare services for the people of Ijaw land, the Federal Government owe the Ijaw people a duty to appoint a substantive Medical Director of the health facility.
Mindiwari stressed that seven other Federal Medical Centers where candidates were screened and recommended at the same time have since been appointed and functioning effectively.“We want to plead with President Tinubu to appoint the best amongst the three screened consultants as the substantive Medical Director to enable the people of Bayelsa State enjoy the facility.”
Mindiwari however said Good Life For Ijaw People, as a pressure group, believe in the Renewed Hope mantra of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed optimism that something will be done soon.