A Civil society group, Open Forum, has appealed to the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to wade into the altercation between the state Ministry of health headed by Dr Ekem Emmanuel John and other two doctors- Mfonobong George Bassey and Uduakabasi Ita for a peaceful resolution.
Dr Mfonobong Bassey is a Consultant Haematologist and Blood Transfusion Medicine and Interventory Haematologist Specialist while Dr Uduakabasi Ita, is a Consultant Radiologist.
Health Commissioner, Dr Ekem, on September 20, had at a press conference in Uyo, declared the two doctors wanted alleging their abdication from duty after being trained by the State government. He warned that such an act was a breach of the bond signed with the state before their sponsored trainings. He threatened to arrest and bring them to book.
Reacting almost immediately, Dr Mfonobong Bassey in a video shot in front of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health and posted on social media denied abdication of duties after his in-service training in Lagos between 2012 – 2020.
He said he returned and resumed work in December 2020 till he tendered his resignation from the service in July 2025.
He claimed he received zero grants as financial support and experienced irregular payment of his salary, sometimes delayed for a period of nine (months). He further stated that he was forced to drive a taxi and access bank loans on two (2) occasions from Polaris Bank to see himself through the training. Upon return, his conversion to consultant cadre was delayed for almost three (3) years with no consideration of his full arrears, having been poorly calculated, he claimed
He threatened a lawsuit against the Ministry and the commissioner for defamation of character.
Worried by the unfolding altercation, Open Forum, in a statement by its convener Mathew Kofi Okono on Monday, urged the NMA and the governor to intervene for a cessation of hostilities, noting that the Forum’s interactions with the two parties showed their willingness for amicable resolutions.
He said “Dr. Mfonobong Bassey had accepted Open Forum appeal to cease further media engagement on the matter and his earlier proposed legal action to clear his name. The Ministry of Health and indeed, the Akwa Ibom State Government should also suspend further correspondences to other institutions with the aim of blacklisting and or frustrating Dr. Mfonobong Bassey, the ONLY Consultant Haematologist in Akwa Ibom State and one of the ONLY four (4) in the South South of Nigeria.
“We most passionately appeal to His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno to direct an immediate resolution of the matter for the official release of Dr. Mfonobong George Bassey from the State Civil Service after putting in 14 years (2012 – 2025) as he wishes.
“Having not seen any press statement on this matter from the umbrella body of doctors in the state, we hereby appeal to the Nigeria Medical Association (MMA) to wade in to the case for total cessation of hostilities.”
Okono also applauded the Commissioner for Health, Dr John for championing reforms in the health sector and refurbishing the entire structure at the ministry saying, “the commissioner is a star who should be protected and projected for more revolutionary contributions to the development of our state and country.
”In the same vein, despite not ever meeting or hearing about Dr. Mfonobong Bassey until this regrettable episode, we find him an asset, not just to Akwa Ibom State but the country and global community. The mismanagement of the process by both parties should not be allowed to degenerate to a personal ego war.”
On the State of emergency in the health sector recently declared by Gov Eno, Open Forum called for an implementable Healthcare Masterplan for sustainability in line with the ARISE Agenda of this administration and global reality and expectations.
Akwa Ibom: NMA, Gov Eno urged to wade into abdication allegation against doctors