The Lagos State branch of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has strongly criticized what it called a “planned smear campaign” by the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The TUC said this campaign was aimed at damaging the reputation of Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, the Acting Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba.
At a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos, the TUC said the NMA’s recent claims about problems in the hospital’s leadership and Owoeye’s reappointment were false and meant to stop the progress being made at the hospital.
TUC Chairman, Gbenga Ekundayo, speaking at the event, said the NMA’s public statement against Owoeye’s reappointment was a “well-funded attack” by selfish individuals who feel threatened by fairness, professionalism, and positive leadership.
The NMA had asked for the immediate cancellation of Owoeye’s reappointment as Acting Medical Director of the hospital.In a statement signed by its Lagos Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, the NMA said Owoeye’s reappointment could harm the hospital’s stability and damage its reputation.
The NMA also argued that since Owoeye’s previous term as full Medical Director had ended, reappointing him went against civil service rules and might lead to management problems at the hospital.
However, the TUC said during its press conference that there is no leadership or management crisis at the hospital, as the NMA claimed.
Monsur Adegoke, representing the TUC chairman, said Owoeye’s reappointment followed proper rules and fits with the government’s policy of promoting good performance.He added, “There is no crisis, no wrongdoing, and no breakdown in leadership.”
He explained that under Owoeye’s leadership, the hospital had made great progress, such as starting the long-awaited consultant status for qualified pharmacists, supported by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, which is part of JOHESU.
Ekundayo also mentioned that Owoeye helped many qualified staff who were stuck in the same position to move forward, cleared backlogs of promotions, and improved the hospital’s infrastructure.
He then asked, “Why is such a positive leadership being attacked?”He accused unnamed groups of trying to take over the hospital’s leadership through dishonest methods.
He said, “This is not about following the rules or performance—it’s a power struggle by people who want to go back to the old system that only helped a few.”
The TUC thanked the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, for his fair handling of the situation, and urged him and the Federal Ministry of Health not to give in to political pressure.
They said, “Dr. Owoeye has earned the federal government’s trust, and that should not be destroyed by lies.”
The union also thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting appointments based on skill and merit in federal health institutions.
The TUC chairman concluded by saying the union would continue to stand for truth, fairness, and the improvement of healthcare in Nigeria.
Also at the press conference were representatives of JOHESU, NUAHP, and SSAUTHRIA from the hospital, who came to show their support for Dr. Owoeye.
