The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared two medical doctors wanted for reportedly absconding from their positions in the state civil service after receiving eight years of government-sponsored training.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, during a press briefing in Uyo.
The accused medical professionals, Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a Consultant Radiologist, and Dr. Mfonobong Bassey, a Consultant Haematologist, are both staff members of the state Ministry of Health.
According to the commissioner, the duo left their positions without fulfilling the mandatory service period required to offset the cost of their state-sponsored medical education.
State Government Issues Stern Warning
Dr. John expressed the government’s disappointment over the incident, noting that the doctors in question were beneficiaries of an eight-year government-sponsored training program.
He emphasized that the administration has consistently maintained that any medical personnel trained with public funds must first serve the state before seeking opportunities elsewhere.
“The state government has repeatedly said that any medical personnel it trains are bound to first serve the state to cover the cost of the training before they will be allowed to leave for greener pastures,” Dr. John stated. “The Ministry of Health has declared them wanted. We will stop their salaries and track them until we find them. Any country they go to, we will report them to the Medical and Dental Council there and ensure they are held accountable.”
He also warned that if the doctors do not voluntarily return to their duty posts, the state will take steps to recover the full cost of their training.
Families of the medical personnel were urged to prevail upon them to report immediately to the ministry.
New Policy to Enforce Service Commitment
In light of this development, the Commissioner announced a new enforcement strategy aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
He stated that going forward, all medical officers trained by the state must serve out the agreed number of years in public service before they will be permitted to resign or seek employment elsewhere.
Dr. John praised Governor Umo Eno for prioritizing the health sector through the ARISE Agenda and the recent declaration of a state of emergency in healthcare.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a resilient health system but insisted that such efforts would not be derailed by professionals abandoning their duties.