Appointment of a 'Layman' as Health Commissioner

APPOINTMENT OF A ‘LAYMAN’ AS COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH

   
Few months ago when Gov Okorocha unveiled the portfolios for the Imo State Commissioners designate, several criticisms greeted the governor’s choice of assigning the state’s ‘almighty’ Ministry of Health to a ‘layman’, particularly from the teeming members of the state’s branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). And till date, many Imolites are still aggrieved over the reportedly unfortunate circumstance.

    Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered coming up with this critique but having understood that suchlike scenario, if not properly addressed, is tantamount to creating an unquantifiable lapse between the government and the governed thereby constituting fathomless upheaval in the state, I thought it wise that it was time I quit acting like a mere onlooker.

     When the news of the said incident got to my humble desk on that fateful day, as an ardent civil rights and constitution activist, the first thing I hastily did was to revisit my copy of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, with a view to re-digesting its sections that highlight the appointment of federal Ministers or state Commissioners as the case may be as well as other appointments as stipulated therein, precisely sections 147 and 192 respectively.

   
The last time I recalled, no part or subsection of the sections in question mandated the governors or the President to appoint only a health/medical personnel as a Commissioner for Health or Minister of Health respectively as the case may be. Rather, regarding fairness and equity, what the constitution mandates the aforementioned Chief Executive Officers to do at all times is to ensure that such appointments are in conformity with the diversity of the people within their respective areas of authority.

     The above fact or directive definitely implies that the appointment of a medical practitioner as a Health Commissioner or Minister, which has seemingly been a tradition ab initio, is solely based on the choice of the governor or the President, as the case may be. In other words, the governor or the President is meant to decide whom among the nominees is fit to wear the shoes.

    
Even though such decision is the governor’s prerogative, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that a very sensitive and critical ministry like health is obviously expected to be manned by a well experienced and passionate individual. Now, in this case, since the person whom was considered fit by the governor to wear the shoes is apparently a layman in the health profession, what every concerned citizen was objectively meant to do, rather than wailing, is to crosscheck or consider the antecedents of the appointee.

     It would interest us to note that the Imo Commissioner of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development in the person of Mrs Ngozi Njoku who is a lawyer by profession, is the immediate past boss of the renowned Imo Foundation – a state owned body that majors in rendering succor to the physically and medically challenged persons in Imo State, instituted by the Gov Rochas Okorocha led administration.

   
This no doubt significantly indicates that the Commissioner in question deserves some credit when it calls for health matters or issues relating to health. I’m of the view that this might be one of the reasons that urged the governor to consider her worthy for the said ministry. Please, I’m not in any way trying to sound biased here, which is far-fetched as regards my person; rather, I’m only appraising facts.

     Besides, what’s essence of a political office holder appointing a Special Adviser (SA) or Personal Assistant (PA)? These appointees – SAs and PAs, whom function as the arms of the public officer, enable him/her to operate effectively and efficiently in every field of human endeavour. Believe me, if not for the work of these SAs or PAs, no human on this planet earth would be qualified to be the governor of a state or the President of a country. There’s no need going into detail since a word is unarguably enough for the wise.

     What the Commissioner or the Minister does is to super head; suffice it to say that he/she is meant to delegate and thereafter supervise. Hence, in any setting, those who do the actual work are the Special Advisers or Assistants; read my lips. This is the reason every political office occupant must be very careful and vigilant while appointing his/her SAs, PAs, SSAs, et al. Competence and reliability are the key words whenever it calls for such appointments or recognitions.

    
Another crucial factor we ought to take into cognizance is that being a marketer, for instance, doesn’t imply that the person isn’t qualify to handle cases concerning sciences, or engineering in particular. Though both aforesaid fields (Marketing and Sciences) have no meeting point, but we must note that beyond one’s basic profession, he/she can go an extra mile to know what’s happening in other professions, maybe owing to passion, potential skill, talent, family background, or what have you.

     I often use myself as a good example whenever such issue is discussed. It would fascinate you to realize that my primary discipline is engineering technology, but today I am practising literature to the core due to talent and passion. Of course, Fred Doc Nwaozor is a prolific novelist, playwright and poet by God’s grace; on the contrary, he bagged Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Physics/Electronics Tech from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), coupled with other professional honours in Engineering thereafter. It would further interest us to note that currently Comr Fred Nwaozor is concurrently practising both Arts and Sciences, which of course are like two parallel lines. Yes, it sounds paradoxical, but it’s real. The rest is history.

     At this juncture, I urge every aggrieved party as regards the choice made by the Imo governor to swallow their grievances towards creating a perpetual cordial relationship between them and the government for the interest of Imo at large. Mind you; I’m on the neutral line and here shall I remain because I can’t attempt to disappoint He who sent me.

     However, as much as the amiable governor might have a tangible reason for appointing the so-called layman as Commissioner for Health, I’m also appealing to his Excellency to always find reasonable time to address his teeming subjects whenever they misunderstand or sense intimidated over any step taken by his noble office. After all, he’s answerable to them. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Twitter: @mediambassador