The saga on the purported abandonment of official duty by two medical doctors and Akwa Ibom Government is simmering, resulting in an exchange of words between one of the doctors and the Commissioner for Health.
The affected doctors are Dr. Mfonobong George Bassey, a Consultant Haematologist and Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a Consultant Radiologist.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John who stirred the hornet’s nest by declaring the two doctors wanted for absconding from their duty posts, forced one of them, Dr. Bassey, out of his hiding to blow hot against what he saw as an ‘’accusation’’ against him in a viral video.
Following ”wrestling” between the doctor and the Commissioner, the State Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien stated that government did not accept the resignation of the medical doctor as allegedly claimed.
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Responding to a text message by Straightnews online publisher on Thursday, September 18, Essien declared ‘‘Leaving service before compulsory retirement year is by resignation PSR 020704. Resignation application must be accepted by Govt before proceeding to leave service.
‘‘An officer who was granted study leave with pay must serve Govt for a period equivalent to the study leave duration before resignation (leaving service) PSR 120404 (1) Resignation can not be approved if an officer is indebted to Govt in any form.
‘‘Retirement is Civil Service comes only after serving for 35 years or attaining 60 years of age (whichever comes first) PSR 020709.’’
Responding to a question on if he had accepted Dr. Bassey’s resignation before he left and joined Bayelsa Teaching Hospital, Yenagoa, the Head of Civil Service stated ‘‘Not accepted because he is still bonded to Govt on ground of In-Service granted him in 2013.’’
Reacting to Dr. Bassey ‘s claims, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. John who accused two medical doctors- – clarified that the issues raised were strictly administrative and not personal.
Dr. Ekem stated that as Commissioner, his duty is to ensure fairness and accountability in the health sector; not only to employees, but also to the employer, and more importantly, to the over seven million Akwa Ibomites whom the sector is called to serve.
He noted that the structures of the civil service are not controlled by any Commissioner, and therefore, due process must be followed.
According to Ekem, “Since he is back, I encourage him to report himself to the Hospitals Management Board. He should present documents to show that he properly resigned and was disengaged from the service”.
He outlined the key areas requiring clarification to include proof that Dr. Bassey did not receive funds during his eight years of training outside the State, or evidence that such monies were refunded or a repayment plan submitted.
The Commissioner further mentioned proof that his resignation complied with the law by giving 30 days notice, or alternatively, that one month’s salary in lieu was paid or waived and evidence that his resignation was duly accepted, processed, and a disengagement letter issued.
Dr. Ekem reiterated that the matter is not in any way personal, stressing that he has never met Dr. Bassey.
“We just want the best for our state. Let him present his documents to the Hospitals Management Board and let the records speak. That is all we ask,” he concluded.
Earlier in his video obtained by Straightnews online, Dr. Bassey had said ‘‘…I am Dr. Mfonobong George Bassey. Luckily, I have come live to the state secretariat. I am standing in front of the State Ministry of Health. I am one of the doctors the State Commissioner for Health had wrongfully accused with character defamatory statement that I have absconded with the state fund after being trained with the state money.
”For those of you who know me and know my history very well, you’ll know that all these things are false. I’ll give you a brief history of myself. I joined the state Civil Service in 2011, had my confirmation in 2012 and had my study leave in July 2013. My in-service was not for doctors alone but for every Civil servant in the state. I completed my in-service training programme in 2020.
”Throughout this period, I had no form of assistance from the government apart from my basic salary. For seven years when I underwent my sponsorship as a resident doctor in University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, I was not paid a dime by way of sponsorship by the state government. I loaned money on two occasions from Polaris Bank so that I could meet up with my residency training in which my statement is there to prove.
”My project work was halted for over a year because of funds. I borrowed money from friends and colleagues before I could complete my residency training at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in which the entire Department of Haematology and General Medicine can testify to this. I came back on my own freewill. I was not on any bond to return. I didn’t sign any bond to return. I could recall when Dr. Etokesen and the then Chairman of Hospitals Management Board praised me on my return to the state despite being poorly treated by the state.
”I came back because I was the only Consultant Haematologist in the state since Dr. Udoaka had retired. Since I came back, I had been submitting proposals to see how we could turn around the diagnosis service in the state so that our people could be rescued especially from haematological diseases and complications. All the proposals were turned down by the Hospitals Management Board and the Ministry of Health. And then this present Commissioner for Health that has the effrontery to say rubbish about me. I will publish every proposal for the world to see.
According to him, ”I am a true son of the soil. I came back because I lost my best friend in Lagos Teaching Hospital due to leukemia. And I made a vow I would return, though people asked: why are you going back to a state that did not care for you and didn’t look for you? I was a taxi driver in Lagos. Every evening when I closed in the hospital, I went to a hotel along Bode Thomas Street, Lagos. I made extra money to sustain myself and my aged mother who passed away a few months ago. Even when I told people how much I paid, they wept knowing my medical and intellectual capacity in my field- Haematology.
”This same Commissioner called me and I provided him with all that he needed, but he brought sub-standard equipment that are not IOS certified to the hospital I was working in Eket. He urged me to use them. I refused, telling him that the equipment were sub-standard. Rather. he teamed up with the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board and that of the Ministry of Health to set traps for me. When I found out that the situation was not okay for me, I dropped my resignation letter, which was approved by my Medical Director, Dr. Itaketo on July 23, 2025 and sent to the Head of Civil Service.
”I owe the state nothing. I am working with Bayelsa Teaching Hospital. When I heard this, I left Bayelsa on Monday at 12 noon to make this video. I feel pain in my heart that the Commissioner stooped low to say nonsense about me. This is the same person who procured the equipment for hospitals. This is the same Commissioner who promised me a brand new car, additional N100,000 to my salary and a landed property. I said ‘no sir’. I do not those things rather use the money to procure functional equipment for our hospital.’’
