UNICAL Teaching Hospital Recruitment Exercise Under Probe
By Naija Enquirer Staff
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate allegations of discriminatory recruitment practices at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), following public outrage over the rejection of newly graduated medical doctors posted for their mandatory housemanship.
The recruitment exercise was allegedly orchestrated by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme.
The development follows a viral report by a group of newly graduated medical doctors who claimed they were rejected by UCTH on ethnic grounds. According to the affected doctors, the CMD rejected their posting because a majority of the candidates were non-indigenes of Cross River State.
The medical doctors alleged in viral posts circulating on social and electronic media that 15 out of the 17 doctors posted to the hospital by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) were of Igbo extraction, a situation the CMD reportedly cited as grounds for rejecting the list.
The House’s decision to probe the matter followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.
Moving the motion, Hon. Igariwey alleged that Prof. Ikpeme rejected a bona fide list of 17 newly graduated medical doctors duly posted to the institution by the MDCN for their compulsory one-year housemanship.
Leading the debate, the lawmaker expressed concern that the rejection was reportedly based on tribal considerations.
“It is alarming that by rejecting a bona fide list sent by the regulatory body on the grounds of tribe and region, Prof. Ikpeme is in dangerous violation of the 1999 Constitution, which seeks to protect citizens from discrimination,” he stated.
He further disclosed that interventions by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Cross River State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) reportedly failed, as the CMD allegedly remained adamant.
The House expressed concern that such actions could worsen the ongoing brain drain in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Hon. Igariwey noted that the number of licensed doctors in the country has dropped to about 40,000, far below the estimated 300,000 required to adequately serve the nation’s healthcare needs.
Lawmakers described the alleged conduct as polarising, repugnant to national unity, and detrimental to the healthcare system, noting that discriminatory practices contribute significantly to the mass emigration of Nigerian medical professionals.
The House also noted that UCTH, as a federal institution and a centre of excellence under the University of Calabar, is expected to uphold the highest standards of fairness, professionalism, and national integration.
Consequently, the House mandated its Committee on Health Institutions to investigate the allegations and report back within four weeks. It also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to suspend Prof. Ikpeme immediately to prevent interference with the investigation.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Hon. Igariwey described the CMD’s actions as a “terrible contradiction,” noting that Prof. Ikpeme himself received medical training outside his home state.
“This man studied at the University of Benin and underwent further medical training at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. How can you benefit from the unity of this country and then deny others that same opportunity because of their tribe?” he queried.
