FMC Nasarawa sacks two officials over ‘job racketeering’

The management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, Nasarawa state, has dismissed two officials of the hospital over the allegation of job racketeering.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Yahaya Adamu, chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital, said some other officials were also suspended for similar offences.

Adamu said the management set up a committee to probe the allegation, noting that nine persons were placed under searchlight.

He said the committee, under his chairmanship, had a statutory representative of the federal ministry of health and members of relevant unions, who served as observers.

“The investigation was done in the open and having concluded our work, we forwarded our recommendations to the minister since the board of the hospital is yet to be constituted,” NAN quoted Adamu as saying.

“The recommendations were modified and a final position was taken over all those accused of job racketeering and others accused of committing other offences.

“Nine staff were affected and all of them were tried based on their levels of involvement. Only one of them was found not guilty.

“So, there was nobody who was guilty that was not punished and those who were suspected to be guilty but for one reason or the other, their cases have not been concluded and were asked to remain until we conclude their matter.

“For anybody to say we allowed some of the accused persons to resume work after these steps that have been taken is unfair.”

The chief medical director said Peter Dare, one of the dismissed officials was found to be the arrowhead of the job racketeering syndicate.

He said Dare was immediately sacked, while the appointment of the other official was terminated.

“When somebody is dismissed, it means he will never work for any government institution in Nigeria again and that’s what we did to the one who is the ring leader of this criminal syndicate,” he added.

“The second person was remorseful and considering her level of involvement, we terminated her appointment. In other words, she can still seek employment elsewhere but of course, she has left FMC Keffi forever.”

The CMD vowed to eliminate job racketeering in the hospital by ensuring proper checks and balances, adding that measures have been adopted to provide quality services in the facility.