The Akwa Ibom State Government has formally declared two medical doctors wanted following reports that they absconded from their positions in the state civil service after benefiting from eight years of government-sponsored medical training. This declaration underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on professionals abandoning their public service obligations, particularly after receiving significant state-funded education.
The announcement was delivered on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, during an official press briefing held at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Uyo. Dr. John outlined the details of the case and emphasized the state’s commitment to ensuring that trained medical personnel fulfill their service obligations before seeking employment elsewhere.
The medical professionals in question, Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a Consultant Radiologist, and Dr. Mfonobong Bassey, a Consultant Haematologist, were both employed by the state Ministry of Health. According to the commissioner, the duo abandoned their roles without completing the mandatory service period, which is a requirement designed to offset the financial investment of the state in their training and development. Their actions were described as a breach of both ethical and contractual obligations to the state.
State Government Issues Stern Warning
During the briefing, Dr. John expressed the government’s deep disappointment regarding the incident, highlighting that the doctors were beneficiaries of a comprehensive eight-year training program fully funded by the state. He reiterated that the Akwa Ibom State Government has consistently maintained that any medical personnel who receive public funds for their education must serve the state for a defined period before seeking opportunities elsewhere.
“The state government has repeatedly emphasized that any medical personnel it trains are obliged to serve the state to recover the cost of the training before they are allowed to leave for greener pastures,” Dr. John said. “In line with this, the Ministry of Health has officially declared Dr. Ita and Dr. Bassey wanted. Their salaries have been stopped, and we are actively tracking them. Should they relocate to any other country, we will notify the relevant Medical and Dental Councils to ensure they are held accountable for failing to honor their service commitment.”
The commissioner also warned that if the doctors do not voluntarily return to their posts, the state government will take legal and administrative steps to recover the full cost of their training. Families of the medical personnel were urged to intervene and encourage the doctors to report immediately to the Ministry of Health to fulfill their obligations and avoid further consequences.
New Policy to Enforce Service Commitment
In response to this development, Dr. John announced a new enforcement strategy aimed at preventing similar cases in the future. According to the new policy, all medical officers trained or sponsored by the state must serve the agreed-upon number of years in public service before they are allowed to resign or seek employment elsewhere. The policy seeks to protect the state’s investment in its healthcare professionals and ensure that public service commitments are respected.
Dr. John further commended Governor Umo Eno for prioritizing the health sector through the ARISE Agenda and for declaring a state of emergency in healthcare. He stated that the administration remains committed to building a resilient and effective health system across Akwa Ibom State and insisted that such ambitious efforts would not be undermined by medical professionals neglecting their duties. The commissioner concluded by stressing that the government would continue to pursue accountability and excellence in the healthcare sector, sending a clear message that public resources must be respected and properly utilized.