Obiaruku: The Ukwuani Local Government Council has inaugurated the newly constituted Medical Board for Local Education Authority in the area to examine the health conditions of the teaching and non-teaching staff and to ascertain the fitness of the workers.
The Medical Board Members are: the Executive Chairman, Ukwuani local Government Council, Hon. (Barr.) Benedicta Ndudi Osakunih-Izuegbu (Chairman); the Ukwuani Local Government Head of Department Primary Healthcare, Dr Tiagbeni (Secretary); the Chief Medical Director General Hospital Obiaruku, Dr Henry Gbenedio (Member) and the representative of SUBEB, Asaba, Dr Monday Obianke Ebeye (Member).
Others include the a member of the NUT, Comr. M.E.N Ogonegbu (Member), the L.E.A representative, Comr. (Mrs.) Egbune V.O (Member) and the representative of (NASU), Comr. Otali Mike (Member).
In her address while inaugurating the board members, the Executive Chairman, Ukwuani local Government Council, Hon. (Barr.) Benedicta Ndudi Osakunih-Izuegbu noted that the board was constituted based on the directives of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in a bid to strengthen the workforce, reduce redundancy and to increase productivity.
The council boss who is also the Chairman of the Medical Board stated that it is expected that the board should carry out its responsibilities and do a thorough job without prejudice adding that though the work is tedious but the team is laden with seasoned professionals with proven track records in their respective fields.
She also emphasized that “the exercise is not aimed at witch-hunting or victimizing any staff and so, I appeal to you (board members) to be duly focused and of course, have it in mind that everything that is worth doing, is worth doing very well for the sake of posterity. I therefore solemnly plead with you to be explicit in the truths and facts of your findings.”
The Medical Board Chairman also called on the staff of the Local Education Authority to come with their credentials and present same for authentication as well as being present in person as flimsy excuses will not be entertained.
Meanwhile, the chairman prayed God to grant the board members the wisdom and strength needed to carry out the tasks before them.
In their separate responses, the board members expressed their gratitude to the chairman and the council for finding them worth to serve as members of the medical board and promised not to fail the council and SUBEB in the discharge of their duties. We shall deliver according to the terms of reference given to us, they added.
Also, they unanimously called on the state government to ensure that when a staff is retired, the retirement benefits are processed and packaged immediately or while the government waits for the period of 6 months before processing retired staff gratuities, they should at least release the contributory pension for the staff to hang on to.
