I did not have plans for this office. I was one of the younger
consultants and the he already had people who deputise for him when he is away.
So I was surprised when the Chairman Medical Advisory Council (CMAC) of my
Teaching Hospital approached me to cover him during his leave. Initially I was
considering rejecting it; I had a lot on my hands. I made it clear to him I
could only offer 3 days in a week and requested he inform the Medical Director
(MD) as such. He agreed and so I started to act for him. I quickly realised 3
days a week was not enough for the work. It was either I did the work properly
and came every day, or not do the work well at all. Seest thou a man
diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand
before mean men Prov 22:29(KJV).
When his leave was over he didn’t return to his office. Instead he
gave notice to leave the hospital (even though he was eligible for a second tenure).
I can’t blame him actually. He was on “loan” from a federal teaching hospital
and such places were now on a salary scale about twice ours in the state. I
continued to act for him without any entitlements, and even though the vacancy
had been advertised for political reasons no name had been submitted for
ratification. I was the only one who expressed interest in writing. After
several months a new board was inaugurated and I requested the MD submit my
name for confirmation. A proposal was made to give me a letter backdated to the
commencement of my acting capacity. That would mean I was soon to leave the
office. I had been doing the work without the benefits and since payments in
arrears were no longer done it would mean losing out both ways. When the letter
came it was silent on the date. I was thus confirmed as the CMAC.
The MD had an uneasy relationship with the new board, but he would not
give me details. In fact I protested to him once that I was being kept in the
dark; how would know how to show loyalty to him? He had made a proposal to the
board that the MD be paid the same as those in federal institutions, and CMACs
75% of that. It was approved since the institution had begun paying doctors at
par with the federal. The crises engulfing the MD came to a head with the staff
wearing black and demonstrating against his tenure. He was forced to go on
leave and handed over to me since I was the CMAC. He actually applied to have
his accumulated leave intending to return to his position when things had
cooled down but the board would have none of that. After his annual leave he
officially left the office of the MD and I took over in an acting capacity with
full benefits.
No compromises, no connections, no god-fathers or appeals to any. Just
God.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take
off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is
low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn,
it: and it shall be no more, until he
come whose right it is; and I will give it him Eze 21:26-27(KJV).
Chijioke is an
orthopaedic surgeon with Imo State University Teaching Hospital
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