The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for an urgent investigation into what it says was the illegal appointment of Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye as Acting Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba. The NMA is also upset that new doctors at the hospital haven’t been paid.
The NMA said things have gotten really bad at the hospital, calling it a case of “administrative chaos” and serious neglect. They warned that if no action is taken soon, they will explore all legal ways to protect their members and the medical profession.
Earlier, the NMA had asked for the immediate cancellation of Dr. Owoeye’s appointment as Acting Medical Director right after it was announced.
In response, the Lagos State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) criticized the NMA, accusing it of trying to ruin Dr. Owoeye’s image through what they called a “planned smear campaign.”
At a press conference, the TUC said the NMA’s claims of crisis and wrongdoing in Owoeye’s reappointment were false. They said such claims were meant to stop progress at the hospital.
TUC Chairman, Gbenga Ekundayo, said the NMA’s public comments were part of a targeted attack by people who are against fairness, professionalism, and positive change.
But during a separate press conference in Lagos, the NMA Chairman for Lagos State, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, said Dr. Owoeye’s appointment was illegal and not done in a transparent way.
Dr. Saheed said the appointment broke civil service rules and ignored objections from important staff at the hospital.
He said the appointment was done without following proper procedures, and it’s especially concerning because there are still unresolved complaints about how Dr. Owoeye has managed the hospital in the past.
He added that the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria at the hospital had already raised concerns about Owoeye being forced into the position. He also said the Federal Ministry of Health is making the problem worse by not solving it.
“This is a federal hospital that helps vulnerable people,” Saheed said. “Putting a controversial person in charge damages public trust and makes people question what the Ministry of Health really cares about.”
Apart from the leadership issue, the NMA also raised concerns that new doctors at the hospital have not been paid. Some of them have worked for six months without getting any salary.
The NMA said this reminds them of what happened in 2024, when doctors weren’t paid for four months until the association stepped in.
Dr. Saheed said the salary delays are a serious problem that show poor management. He warned that not paying doctors violates their rights and can affect the quality of care, especially in a mental health hospital where doctors need emotional strength.
The NMA demanded that Dr. Owoeye’s appointment be canceled immediately, all unpaid salaries be paid, and that a fair and open process be used to choose future leaders.
“We urge the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidency to take action quickly. This is not about politics or personal issues—it’s about fairness, openness, and the future of quality healthcare,” Saheed said.
