Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike fired Health Commissioner Princewill Chike on Monday for allegedly organizing a preliminary session of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) “without approval.”
Mr. Wike announced the commissioner’s dismissal when MDCN President Abba Hassan paid him a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor described the commissioner’s unilateral decision to house MDCN without the consent of the state government as “most embarrassing.”
He said the state government did not request to host the council’s preliminary session.
Mr. Wike emphasized that the commissioner made a mistake in unilaterally scheduling MDCN’s hosting at the same time that the government inaugurated the projects.
Frankly speaking, I have never seen shame like this in my life. Everyone knows that it is not my nature to bring people and not serve them. So whoever did this must suffer for it, ”he said.
Mr. Wike said that MDCN’s request for the establishment of a tertiary hospital in each of its senatorial districts would not be feasible due to lack of funds.
“You have spoken of citing a tertiary hospital in each of the senatorial districts, this is not possible.
“That is why in Nigeria we have a problem. When you go for your budget, you put all kinds of projects. You know it can’t work Where will he get the money to locate the hospital in each of the senatorial districts?
The governor said that to improve citizens’ access to the provision of quality health services, his administration had embarked on the construction of some zone hospitals in Bori, Degema, Etche, Ahoada and Omoku.
He further said that his government had also invested huge resources in promoting medical education in the state.
“This is particularly the case with the establishment of the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences and the annual scholarships awarded to 130 indigenous people studying medicine at the PAMO University of Medical Sciences,” said Mr. Wike.
The governor requested the reduction of the money accumulated for the Federal Government of the Federation Account to allow the states to have more resources to promote their developments.
ALSO READ: Court dismisses Kwara LG interim committees
Earlier, Hassan, a professor, said they were in the state for the council’s ninth preliminary session and praised Wike for his positive attitude toward health care and medical delivery services in the state.
He was particular about the “huge investment” in Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences and building a “world-class” Peter Odili Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer.
The MDCN president urged governors to consider investing in tertiary hospitals in each of the senatorial districts to increase the number of hospitals available for training internal officials and to control medical tourism.
(YAYA)