The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Rivers State has suspended the salaries of about 1,000 employees following a recent audit of its workforce.
The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chituru Orluwene, made this known on Monday during a press briefing marking his first 100 days in office.
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He explained that upon assuming duty as the eighth CMD, there was no official nominal roll for the hospital. Although over 4,000 individuals were listed on the payroll, only about 2,000 were physically present at their posts.
According to him, this discrepancy prompted a staff verification exercise, which revealed that roughly 2,000 workers could not be accounted for.
He added that while the audit report has been submitted to the hospital’s management, the salaries of more than 1,000 affected workers have already been discontinued.
“On assumption of office, we discovered about 4,000 names on the payroll, but only half were actively working. This led to the verification exercise, which will also help us establish a proper nominal roll, as none existed before.
“We have made significant recoveries, but the impact of having numerous non-performing staff has been a major concern. Salaries of over 1,000 individuals have been stopped. Once the report reaches the Federal Government, there will be a need to recruit committed personnel,” he said.
Orluwene further stated that his administration has taken steps to plug financial leakages in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also disclosed that hospital and mortuary charges have been reviewed downward.
He appreciated the President and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, for his appointment, while pledging to run an open and transparent administration.
The CMD noted that the hospital has introduced a feeding programme for admitted patients, with a daily charge of N5,000 covering three meals.
He also revealed that management is intensifying efforts to curb corruption, including clamping down on staff who collect payments through personal Point of Sale accounts within the facility.
Addressing concerns over mosquito infestation, Orluwene said decisive measures have been implemented, yielding noticeable improvements.
“I am here to deliver results, not just make promises. When we resumed in January, mosquitoes were a serious problem, even in offices. The issue goes beyond surface cleaning.
“A polluted environment, underground leaks, and stagnant water create breeding grounds. We engaged a consultant who inspected the hospital’s underground systems and discovered damaged pipes.
“They evacuated the soakaway pits, removing about 40 truckloads of waste. The pits were properly filled, and since then, the mosquito situation has significantly improved,” he added.
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