Rivers ACN Frowns At Arbitrary Suspension of Medical Personnel

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State chapter says the recent suspension of two medical doctors serving in Degema Local Government Area of the State and other medical personnel, negates laid down procedures of the Civil Service rules.

Accusing the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker of towing the path of his employer, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the ACN in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam said arbitrariness against rule of law has now become the order of the day in Rivers State.

Jerry Needam argues that rather than query the airing medical personnel as stipulated in the civil service rules and regulations in respect of their fundamental rights before any further corrective measures, Dr Parker went all out in same spirit of Governor Amaechi to place the doctors on suspension.

“It may appear as nothing to worry about now but apparently, a regime of executive high handedness and zero-tolerance to contrary views on common issues has gradually crept into our system of governance”, the ACN spokesman lamented.

According to the ACN, the dust raised by the recent suspension of 11 council chairmen by Governor Amaechi using executive fiat in defiance of the Local Government Law is yet to settle only to be complemented with another act of lawlessness by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker.

In the party's view, the ACN Publicity Secretary said the State Commissioner of Health should be more concerned with the current lassa fever already detected in some parts of the State and which has claimed the life of a National Youth Corps member serving in the State.

“This is enough challenge to our health-sector than suspending the few doctors we have irrationally”, Jerry Needam concluded.

Jerry Needam, JP
Publicity Secretary
Action Congress of Nigeria
Rivers State
Friday, January 27, 2012