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Nigeria: Health Ministers Resign
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Leadership (Abuja)
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 26 March 2008
Golu Timothy
Abuja
Minister of health, Professor Adenike Grange, and the minister of state (health), Mr. Gabriel Aduku, resigned their appointments yesterday.
The two ministers and some directors in the ministry are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N300 million of last year's budget.
President Yar'Adua had ordered that "unspent budget monies," be returned to the treasury.
But the ministry was said to have disregarded the directive and went ahead to hurriedly utilise the funds.
A statement by the special adviser (communications) to the president, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, said President Yar'Adua has accepted the voluntary resignation of the ministers.
According to him: "Both ministers are leaving the Federal Executive Council following charges of corruption brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
"The ministers were said to have spent N300 million of last year's budget after the president ordered that 'unspent budget monies' be returned to the treasury.
"Without the burden of their ministerial duties, the two-some would be better placed to respond to the charges against them."
Yar'Adua has also ordered the head of the civil service of the federation, Mrs Ebele Okeke, to direct that the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Prof. Simon Ogamdi, proceed on suspension.
Also suspended, according to the statement, are the director of administration, Dr H.B. Oyedepo, and the director of finance, Mr. Hanafi Muhammed, who allegedly participated in the subversion of presidential directive on the return of unspent budget 2007 funds to the treasury.
"The suspension is in accordance with extant civil service rules pending further disciplinary action by government," Adeniyi added.
Also affected in the suspension order are chief accountant, Mr M.S. Hamid; a director, Abdulrahaman Ambali; a principal administrative officer, Mr Donald Ekanem; a principal transport officer, Mr Donatus Iyang, and seven other civil servants in the ministry.
The statement said that the minister of labour, Dr Hassan Lawal, is to oversee the affairs of the ministry until further notice.
Meanwhile, Prof. Grange yesterday said she had accepted responsibility for the contract and welfare packages saga that happened under her leadership.
But she said she was not to be blamed.
In a statement made available to the press in Abuja, the former minister said, "As the chief accounting officer of the ministry I take responsibility not the blame."
"This is to inform you that I just resigned my appointment with immediate effect as the minister of health due to recent events in the ministry which necessitated this decision," the statement quoted her as saying.
But her acceptance should not be misconstrued as an admission of guilt, she said.
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"Rather, a path of honour for lapses and intrigues under my watch for which unfortunately I was not versed in.
"Finally, I am leaving because I consider my dignity, reputation and legacy, values that I worked hard for and hold dearly," she said.
Grange said she was returning to her "unblemished career" which she had laboured for over the years "to the business which I am familiar with – saving lives of mothers and children across Nigeria and in the world."
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