Concerned Staff of Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, Sokoto state, has raised a passionate appeal to avert a looming threat at the hospital.
In a letter addressed to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, signed by Suleiman Isa Bodinga, on behalf of the concerned Staff, alleged despicable regime of decadence, arbitrariness, brazen thievery and wanton looting by the management of the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, Sokoto under the outgoing Medical Director, Dr Shehu Saleh.
Specifically, the concerned workers mentioned it petition on the scheming of the outgoing Medical Director, Dr Shehu Saleh, to circumvent due process and every laid down statutory regulations, in the appointment of his successor.
According to the petition, “we highlighted the obnoxious decision of the outgoing MD, to shut out existing and qualifed personnel in the service of the hospital in the appointment of the Head of Clinical Services. Rather, he surreptitiously went out to shop in far away Kano for an Acting Head of Clinical Services.
“It is pertinent to point out the fact that, Dr Saleh is going for this particular external candidate, because procedurally, the Head of Clinical Services automatically becomes the MD, in the event of a vacancy.
“Rather, to the utter bewilderment of the entire members of the hospital community, the ministry’s Director of Teaching Hospitals Division, Dr Abisola issued a memo dated, 30th of April, on the “directive of the Honourable Minister of State” which gave approval to the request of MD Shehu Saleh, to formally engage one Dr Abubakar Baguda Sulaiman, (from outside of the hospital), as the Acting Head of Clinical Services.
“At this juncture, it worth revealing that Dr Abubakar Baguda Sulaiman who, is a staff of the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Kano, is closely related to Dr Shehu Saleh by virtue of the two being married to sisters of the same parents.
“It therefore, came to us as a rude shock when we realized that in total contrast to our perception of him, the Honourable Minister of State, Dr Iziak Adekunle Salako, may NOT have been as blameless and impartial over our matter. The unfortunate change in our esteem of Dr Iziak Adekunle Salako derived from a scenario that played out on the 14th May, 2025.
“On that day, our representatives were at the office of the Minister of State to submit our earlier referred second petition. Coincidentally just at that moment, the MD, Dr Shehu Saleh, also arrived the office.
“In some opinions, Dr Shehu Saleh is averse to a successor from within the Hospital, particularly, Dr Ishak Abioda Danjuma, strictly and solely because, he is skeptical of handing over to a disciplined, prudent and honest person who might be inclined to expose his sordid records.”
The workers further alleged that, Dr Shehu Saleh has additionally been playing the religious card, a dangerous dimension to the situation because, it has the potential of disrupting the long-standing tradition of serenity and harmony thereby, counterproductive to the hospital’s progress, workplace stability and the general welfare of its staff, the patients and the wider community.
“We are vehemently against the plan to bring in an outsider as replacement for the outgoing MD because of the obvious sinister motives that we consider as inimical and detrimental to the hospital. We believe that going further on the path followed by the outgoing Medical Director, will be leading to irreparable havoc.
“Significantly, the unfolding scenario at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, Sokoto, is in direct opposite to the goals, objectives and spirit of Mr President’s government Philosophy of, RENEWED HOPE AGENDA.
“Lastly, while we are not issuing threats or blackmail, we wish to caution that, the course being embarked upon by the powers that be in the present circumstance, may not augur well for the existing fragile industrial peace and harmony at the hospital,” the statement added.
