Workers of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, in Cross River State, have clashed with the hospital’s acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Theophilus Osim, for allegedly flouting a directive by the health ministry on the appointment of a substantive CMD.

The aggrieved workers made this known during a protest to register their grievances at the hospital’s premises on Monday.

The members of staff who were armed with placards of various inscriptions also accused the acting medical director of victimisation, highhandiness, and harassment.

The union noted Osim, who has been in an acting capacity since March 2024, has deliberately, on several occasions, flouted the directive to advertise for the same position.

A union leader, ComKen Bassey, who is also a staff member of the health institution, said the recent directive for a substantive medical chief was issued by the health ministry in a letter dated May 14, 2025.

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He said the letter gave the acting medical director six weeks to place the advert.

“As we speak, he has not acted on that directive just the same way he has always acted as if he is bigger than the ministry.

“We have been victimised, harassed, suppressed, and intimidated by the same man for daring to speak out for the right thing to be done in this hospital but today, we are saying enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate this executive rascality,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the acting medical director has sued for more peace from the union, noting that their agitations were not out of place.

He, however, corrected the impression that he flouted the directive of the health ministry to advertise for the appointment of a substantive medical director for the hospital.

Osim also debunked the allegations of high-handedness and said he has always acted based on the provisions of the law.