A reign of absurdity is presently going on at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, where crisis is brewing over what appears to be a “strange and unorthodox” elongation of tenure of the Medical Director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, in clear violation of extant federal regulations.
Trouble began when Dr. Owoeye’s statutory four-year tenure expired on May 31, 2025, but he refused vacating the position or hand over to the most senior clinical officer in the institution, as stipulated by government policy.
Instead, Dr. Owoeye re-designated himself as “Acting Medical Director” effective from June 1, 2025, citing a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
For over two and a half months now, this sit-tight posture has triggered internal protests, petitions, and deep discontent among senior consultants and staff, who are insisting that the proper succession protocol be followed, in which case, the outgoing CEO to vacate office until a reappointment, if approved, is formally made.
Though Dr. Owoeye is entitled to a second term if given the nod, the manner in which he has refused to step aside pending reappointment has angered stakeholders. Beyond the seeming procedural irregularities, there are also serious allegations of corruption, financial impropriety, mismanagement, and erosion of clinical leadership under his watch.
Joining the call for his immediate removal are the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), who have formally urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the re-appointment process and launch a thorough and transparent investigation.
According to Dr. Babajide Saheed, Chairman of Lagos NMA: “We cannot, in good conscience, recognize Dr. Owoeye in any capacity beyond his expired tenure. We have told our members, and the government must take this seriously. The consequences of inaction may lead to avoidable industrial unrest.”
Citing the December 4, 2017 Circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Associations reminded the public that: “. . . an outgoing Chief Executive Officer must hand over to the next most senior officer of the establishment . . . and are under no circumstances allowed to exceed the expiration of their tenure in office.”
Despite this clear regulation, stakeholders say the situation at Yaba Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital is a glaring violation, and accused the Federal Ministry of Health of being complicit.
In a strongly worded statement, MDCAN accused Dr. Owoeye of gross mismanagement of the hospital during his first tenure, citing poor performance in key operational and clinical areas.
A senior MDCAN member remarked: “There is no justification for reappointing a Chief Executive who has performed abysmally low during his first tenure. Any survey of the hospital’s key performance indicators (KPI) will reveal gross inefficiencies, poor morale among staff, deteriorating clinical infrastructure, and zero innovation.”
MDCAN further stated that what should be paramount to the Ministry of Health is appointing a Medical Director who aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Five Pillars of Health Agenda and his zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
“What we need is visionary leadership, not entrenchment of mediocrity. The reappointment process must not be a reward system for failure,” the statement added.
The Association also dismissed the credibility of the investigative teams allegedly sent to review the crisis.
“The so-called investigators conducted a jamboree. None of the senior doctors who authored the petitions was interviewed or given the opportunity to be heard. It was a one-sided, choreographed assessment,” another Consultant who preferred anonymity said.
Reacting to inquiries from our Correspondent, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, in a telephone interview, insisted that due diligence was followed, pointing out that the supervisory Ministry under his watch was above board and gave enough time to fully address all the issues under contention.
Dr Salako disclosed that two independent panels including those drawn from ICPC and Federal Character Commission, investigated the matter and found no wrongdoing.
He acknowledged internal strife among Consultants, urging all parties to close ranks in the interest of the institution.
But the storm is far from over. Stakeholders maintain that allowing Dr. Owoeye to continue in office is not only a violation of process but a threat to the institutional integrity and clinical productivity of one of Nigeria’s leading neuropsychiatric centres.
They warned that rewarding a leader with allegations of mismanagement and poor performance sends the wrong message to the healthcare sector and the wider public.
“When corruption, incompetence, and impunity are rewarded with reappointment, it becomes a direct insult to merit, morality, and the spirit of public service,” MDCAN added.
“We must not build a system where wrongdoing is a pathway to promotion”, they stressed.
