Crisis Rocks National Hospital, Abuja Over Appointment of New CMD

A major crisis is brewing at the nation's foremost reference hospital facility, the National Hospital in Abuja over leadership succession tussle.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the likely cause of the debacle in the appointment of a new Chief Medical Director (CMD) for the hospital was the desperate move by some powerful interests to impose someone without recourse to due process.

After the eight-year tenure of the erstwhile CMD, Dr. Jaf Momoh, another person, Dr. Aisha Umar took over as Acting CMD. Aisha later left for leave of absence with Dr. Badamosi stepping in to act while she was away.

When THISDAY sought an explanation from the parent ministry, the Federal Ministry of Health over the brewing crisis, a senior official who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the issue had attracted several petitions and that these complaints were being looked into by the ministry.

"This is an internal matter. As far as I know, there have been petitions over the replacement of the CMD of the National Hospital, Abuja and the ministry is still looking into the matter," she said.

The official said the succession crisis at the National Hospital had led to several meetings being convened to try to resolve it.

THISDAY gathered that one of such meetings was held last Friday, at the ministry where issues resulting from the outcome of CMD interview were examined, but not conclusively dealt with.

A source at the National Hospital, Abuja, had traced the origin of the crisis to an interview conducted for a substantive CMD.

He said the Minister of Health Dr. Ehanire Osagie had set up a 6-member panel to interview applicants for the CMD job.