Unveiling The Consultant-Driven Exploitation Of The Central Hospital -By Osehobo Ofure Victor
**Unveiling the Consultant-Driven Exploitation of the Central Hospital**
By Osehobo Ofure Victor
One of the assets the Assets Verification Panel set up by the Edo State government will be interested in is the Central Hospital along Sapele Road, with its century-old legacies, which were stripped and handed over to an individual to build a museum using Edo State resources.
Edo owns the Central Hospital and the land on which it was built, a facility that had existed for over 100 years. When it was demolished, what was its value, and how was it converted into personal property?
The mismanagement of the Central Hospital and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, evidenced by the involvement of costly consultants, Ciuci-AGCare, underscores why Governor Monday Okpebholo’s decision to dissolve the consultancy arrangements of these hospitals is decisive.
For years, these critical healthcare facilities, built with Edo taxpayers’ money, were plunged into dubious management arrangements that prioritized private interests over public welfare.
On July 27, 2024, an unsigned memo titled “Edo Specialist Hospital Employee Development Initiative and Policy” surfaced. It confirmed long-held suspicions about the Edo Specialist Hospital’s management under Ciuci-AGCare. The Lagos-based private entity had clandestinely overseen the hospital, ensuring it remained inaccessible to the ordinary Edo people it was built to serve. Despite being funded with public money, the hospital operated under a murky contract with no defined tenure, clear financial arrangements, or performance metrics.
This opaque arrangement effectively paralyzed the State Health Management Board, the statutory body mandated to oversee all hospitals in Edo State. By sidelining this body, the previous government rendered it toothless, paving the way for consultants to exploit the state’s healthcare system unchecked. This approach undermined transparency and fostered an environment where mismanagement thrived, leaving Edo’s public healthcare in disarray.
The memo further highlighted Ciuci-AGCare’s sinister scheme, AGCare CLINICAL-HEIRS, a controversial initiative that reassigned hospital staff and assets without consultation or consent. Contract employees faced forced transfers to facilities operated by Ciuci-AGCare within Nigeria and abroad, including locations in Delta, Imo, Kenya, the UK, and the USA. These reassignments were compulsory, indefinite, and lacked clarity about criteria, duration, or support systems. This reckless policy stripped employees of their rights, disrupted hospital operations, and undermined patient care.
Disenchanted hospital staff expressed outrage at this scheme. Many feared that the lack of a clear backfill strategy for reassigned positions would compromise the hospital’s ability to deliver care. Others criticized the absence of mentorship or orientation programs for employees thrust into unfamiliar roles. The initiative’s ambiguity and disregard for workers’ welfare fueled widespread skepticism and fear.
The consequences of this management approach extended beyond staff dissatisfaction. Equipment shortages, unmaintained facilities, and dwindling morale have rendered the hospital increasingly incapable of serving Edo residents. As Ciuci-AGCare sought to entrench its influence ahead of the transition to the Okpebholo administration, doubts over the hospital’s future viability reached a fever pitch.
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s decision to sack the Boards overseeing the Central and Stella Obasanjo hospitals marks a turning point for many. His administration recognizes the need to prioritize the welfare of Edo citizens by reclaiming these facilities from exploitative consultants. By employing competent Edo State indigenes to manage the hospitals, Governor Okpebholo will ensure accountability and investment in the development of local talent. This approach will guarantee that the healthcare system serves its true purpose—caring for the people of Edo State.
The dismantling of the consultant-driven model signals a commitment to transparency, equity, and efficiency. Governor Okpebholo’s action can restore hope that these hospitals will once again provide affordable, quality healthcare to all.