Kogi NMA chairman suspended for alleged administrative and financial violations

The Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its chairman, Dr. Olusola Baoku, for constitutional, administrative and financial violations.

At an extraordinary congress held in Lokoja on Saturday, former NMA Chairman Dr. David Ayemila told journalists that a committee had been set up to hold power until August 11, 2024, the day when elections will be held to nominate new civil servants to run the affairs of the state.

DAILY POST learnt that the Congress resolved not to create a vacuum and mandated the Committee of Past Chairmen headed by Dr Ayemila and Dr Zubair Kabiru as Secretary to take over the running of the association until fresh elections are held and a new executive committee is in place.

Ayemila attributed the association’s crisis to the manner in which the chairman of the dissolved board handled the association’s affairs.

“Our committee was inaugurated today, July 13, 2024, to monitor the activities of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) until August 11, next month, when a new leadership of the association will be elected,” Ayemila noted.

Ayemila explained that the decision to dissolve the former state executive committees was due to their failure to manage the association well and avoid avoidable challenges facing the association. The only way out was to set up a new interim management committee headed by the former association chairpersons.

He attributed this to the inability of the dissolved civil servants to organize meetings and thus justified the far-reaching decision to set up a new body to manage the affairs of the association.

Ayemila implored the members, who are experienced medical professionals, to support and work with them so that they can carry out their current task with the required energy.

He said: “Congress has also empowered the past chairmen by transferring all the powers of the State Officers Committee (SOC) to the Committee of Past Chairmen.

“The committee is to ensure that the medical and surgical measures proposed for Okene are carried out, including a successful election and annual general meeting.”

DAILY POST recalls that under the former Chairman of NMA in Kogi State, Dr. Olusola Baoku, seven members of the 2022-2023 executive committee have submitted their resignation letters following the crisis that rocked the association.