By Favour O. Usiobaifo
The newly elected executive of Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) Uselu hospital chapter has on Tuesday 31st May, 2022 paid a courtesy visit to the Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City. The essence of the visit was to introduce the new executive of the aforementioned union and also to thank the Medical Director for providing the enabling environment in the hospital during their election.
Speaking during the occasion, the chairman, Mrs. P.O. Efe (Chief Administrative Officer) lauded the Medical Director’s developmental strides in the hospital, adding that the hospital was presently wearing an excellent look. On the union’s behalf, Mrs. Efe requested the Medical Director for an office for the union’s secretariat, car wash space for business purpose, and also to use his good office to facilitate the payment of the 2019 promotion arrears to some members of staff who were yet to receive theirs.
On his part, the Medical Director thanked the newly elected EXCO for the visit and wished them a successful tenure in office. He then encouraged them to sustain the cordial relationship that had existed between the hospital’s Management and the union in the last couple of years. He also enjoined them to always tow the path of dialogue in their dealings with government or management, noting that it would be mutually beneficial to both parties.
In response to their demands, the Medical Director assured them of management’s support. He however noted that there was no office space at Uselu site at the moment. He explained that management was still trying to create offices for the new units (Bio-Medical, Environmental Health, and Stores Verification) in the hospital. Nevertheless, the Medical Director assured them that management could approve an office as well as a car wash space for them at the hospital’s new site as there was no space at the Uselu site. On the issue of 2019 promotion arrears, he instructed them to inform the concerned members of staff who were not paid when others were paid to write formally through their heads of department to management for the necessary action.
Furthermore, the Medical Director used the occasion to commend staff of the hospital for their warm attitude to work, noting that the accreditation team from the West African College of Physicians was quite impressed with staff receptiveness.
In a vote of thanks, the Vice-Chairman, Mr. O. Iyamu (Senior Social Welfare Officer) expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Medical Director for granting them audience.