A civil society organisation (CSO), Movement for Justice, has condemned the tenure extension granted Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye as the Acting Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, Lagos.
At a press briefing in Lagos at the weekend, the group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject the extension granted Dr Owoeye, and instead appoint the hospital鈥檚 most senior medical officer in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
Speaking at the event, the group鈥檚 Convener, Ayodele Ademiluyi (ESQ), accused Dr. Owoeye of incompetent leadership over the past four years, citing mismanagement, stalled projects, and alleged financial misconduct.
Ademiluyi claimed that under Owoeye鈥檚 leadership, the hospital demolished its outpatient clinic over three years ago, promising to rebuild it within six months, a promise yet to be fulfilled.
鈥淧atients are now forced to consult doctors in a communal dining hall, compromising their privacy and dignity,鈥 he said.
The group also alleged that the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), a scheme designed to provide affordable and genuine medications鈥攚as mismanaged under Owoeye.
鈥淲hen he assumed office in 2021, there was N80 million in the DRF account and drugs worth about N100 million shortly, with no debts. Today, the fund has been depleted, and patients suffer,鈥 Ademiluyi added.
Additional concerns raised include poor maintenance of wards, misuse of funds meant for in-patient feeding, and general administrative decline at the hospital.
The group also faulted the recent appointment letter naming Owoeye as Acting Medical Director, allegedly signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, on behalf of the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.
It said the move violated a Public Service Circular, Ref No: SGF.50/S.II/C.2/268, which stipulated that the most senior officer should take over after a Medical Director鈥檚 tenure expires.
In response, the group announced that a legal action had been taken. 鈥淲e have filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1252/2025), seeking a perpetual injunction against the reappointment of Dr. Owoeye,鈥 Ademiluyi disclosed.
Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, General Secretary of the United Action for Democracy (UAD), echoed the call, stating, 鈥淔NPH is in a pitiable condition. The way public hospitals are being ruined by incompetent leadership must stop.鈥
He also urged the Federal Government to increase funding for mental health care in Nigeria, adding, 鈥淵aba should not be the only mental hospital, and even this one is in disrepair.鈥
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter, also in a statement, expressed concern over the hospital鈥檚 administrative state.
Its chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, warned of an impending collapse in hospital operations if Owoeye鈥檚 appointment was not reversed.
鈥淭he Federal Ministry of Health must respect Civil Service Rules and promote merit-based leadership in our health institutions,鈥 Saheed said.
However, the Lagos State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has come out in defense of Owoeye.
According to reports, the TUC Chairman, Gbenga Ekudayo, represented by Comrade Kehinde Adegoke, dismissed the allegations as 鈥渂aseless and politically motivated.鈥
鈥淭here is no leadership crisis at FNPH. The claims by the NMA and some civil groups are part of a campaign to tarnish Dr. Owoeye鈥檚 achievements,鈥 he said.