ABSU College Of Medicine Lost Accreditation Because Its Door Was Not Opened To NUC Inspection Team — Commissioner

Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji appeared before the State House of Assembly on Wednesday to offer explanations on why the Abia State University College Of Medicine lost its accreditation.

The Assembly had summoned him following the news that National Universities Commission, NUC withdrew its accreditation from the college

At the plenary on Wednesday, the Commissioner while explaining to members of the Assembly on what led to the withdrawal of accreditation said NUC officials came on a supervision tour of the institution and they were conducted round the facility but when they got to the medical school, the gate was under lock and key because the workers were on strike.

The Commissioner said the school lost accreditation because the medical school was not opened for the team.

At this point, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, asked the Commissioner to explain in details to the House why the school lost its accreditation and what could be done to remedy the situation.

Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency also asked the Commissioner why the workers of Hospital Management Board are owed backlog of salaries and if there was any functional General Hospital in the State, and the way forward.

Dr Osuji told the House that he wasn’t duly informed the day the team came on the visit, he emphasised that the attitude of the workers in various General Hospitals in the state has made the hospitals to perform below expectations.

When asked what happened to the revenue being generated by the Hospital Management Board, the Commissioner said he was not fully aware of the revenue generated by the Board because the constituted Boards of the hospitals made it difficult for his ministry to access their financial activities.

He also said in some cases, the institutions remit little or nothing to the state coffers at the end of each month.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji however expressed dissatisfaction with this response, saying it was a very huge blunder.

The Commissioner was discharged to re-appear on a later date.