Top management officials of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, IMSUTH, Orlu, Imo State escaped death by hair breath when aggrieved staffers of the health institution protested moves by the management to sack them from office.
Aggrieved by the planned mass sack which would throw them into the already saturated unemployment market, the workers threatened the Medical Director of the teaching university and attempted to lynch some of the board members and top management staff. Some of the top management staff was forced to escape from their offices when the rampaging staffers accosted them.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that as part of the commercialization programme which the present state government has instituted in government owned hospitals, the IMSUTH management was asked to reduce staff strength before the new consultants expected to manage the place take over.
The board piloted by the Director, Dr Chukwulebe moved into action and allegedly short listed some names for possible removal.
Even as the state government was reported not to be happy with the number said to be too small, workers who got wind of the planned sack swung into action and began to cause confusion. Top management staff and board members were forced to avoid the teaching hospital to avoid the wrath of the aggrieved workers.
When contacted on phone for reaction, the Medical Director, Dr Chukwulebe stated that the crisis was politically – motivated by certain persons to realize their selfish ambitions. The Director who said that he took two weeks leave to not only cater for his dear life against the machinations of the evil plotters, but also allow tension to cool, disclosed that the whole thing about sack or retrenchment is a false rumour peddled around by some desperate persons nursing subjected motives.
The Director denied that he short listed names to be sacked adding that any decision is that of the board. Dr Chukwulebe added that the crisis is orchestrated by some persons to stampede the Governor into changing the leadership.
“They want me out that is why they are causing confusion. Since the new government came in, they have been plotting to remove me because it is at the discretion of the Governor to appoint or dismiss the Director. After one year, they still want me out”, Chukwulebe added.
