Delta Assembly Upholds the Demotion of Pharmacist Kenvil Onome of Eku Hospital

The Delta State House of Assembly at its sitting on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, unanimously upheld the demotion in rank of one Pharmacist Kenvil Onome Oyinvwi of the state Hospital Management Board.

Kenvil Onome who is a Pharmacist at Eku Baptist Government Hospital, Eku was slapped with two grade demotion on 20^th January 2015 by the Hospital Management Board after series of misconduct (possession of private and free drugs, and operation of private pharmacy without permission/approval) and an unwillingness to turn a new leaf.

The House committee on Public Petitions which entertained a prayer from the demoted staff for a review of the sanction, presented its report at the plenary through the chairman, Hon. Orezi Esievo.

In his petition to the House of Assembly to redress the situation which was finally thrown out for lack of merit, Pharmacist Kenvil Onome contended that the events leading to his demotion by two (2) grade levels was not only staged-managed but orchestrated to ridicule and embarrass him. That it is an exercise borne out of jealousy/envy that he operated a private pharmacy in Asaba, and which has become morally and psychologically injurious to him.

He alleged that he was unjustly and unlawfully demoted and seeks a declaration by the Delta State House of Assembly to direct the Hospital Management board to reverse their action and reinstate him to the grade level he ought to be alongside his contemporaries.

The Public Petitions Committee headed by Hon. Barr. Orezi Esievo swiftly began investigation into the presented petition. The Delta State hospital Management Board and the petitioner were immediately invited to present their claims and defence.

In its defence, the Hospital Management board (HMB) as represented by the Director, Hospitals Services, Dr. A.L. Pemu said that the decision to demote Pharmacist Kenvil Onome Oyinvwi by the Board was taken after extensive consideration of series of his wrong doings in the various stations he has worked. That in response to a text message from a member of Eku Community, that private drugs were being sold in the hospital, and at exorbitant rates, the board dispatched a 2-man team on the 22^nd of May, 2014 with the task of ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of the allegation in the text message. The team on their visit uncovered and impounded some drugs stock in the office of Pharm. Oyinvwi.

On close investigation into the recovered drugs, Pharm. Oyinvwi claimed that they belong to him which included free medications for HIV patients, National primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Sure-P were among the consignments found in his possession without the knowledge of the hospital management.

The Director contended that demoting the petitioner was in the best interest of the hospital after failing to convince the inquiry panel on why those drugs were found in his private possession and also the Board’s benevolence considering his antecedents in his former station at Issele-Uku General Hospital it was reported in a petition by the Issele-Uku Development Union (IDU) in November 2012 , accusing him of same offence of sales of private drugs in the hospital, diversion of government drugs to his private pharmacy, irregular attendance at work among other wrong doings.

Highlighting further, Dr. Pemu posited that following series of wrong doings and unwillingness to turn a new leaf, the disciplinary action was approved. He said the likes of  Pharm. Oyinvwi should not be encouraged to remain in the service as he is a bad egg capable of corrupting and contaminating others with good character and attitude to work. He maintained that the petitioner would have been dismissed according to the Public Service Rules but the punishment was mitigated to demotion by two (2) grade levels to serve as a deterrent to others.

After an extensive assessment of Claims and Counter-Claims viz-a-viz the Petitioner and the Hospital management board, the committee resolved that the evidences of wrong doings against the petitioner, Pharm. Kenvil Onome Oyinvwi was over-whelming and upheld the demotion in rank by two (2) grade levels slammed on Pharm. Kenvil Onome Oyinvwi by the Board.

The petition was thereafter flung out for lack of merit and an attempt to mis-inform members of the public.

On submission of the report, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya appreciated the painstaking effort by members of the public petitions committee to unravelling the details of what transpired between the petitioner and the board.

A voice vote was subsequently put forward to members of the house which received a resounding response in support of the concrete demotion of Pharm. Kenvil Onome Oyinvwi.