...As ‎CMD blames recent protests on misinformation, says transition process nearing completion

‎
‎The Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) has moved closer to full operations following the Federal Government's approval of a take-off workforce of 1,200 staff, with the hospital projecting that workers will begin receiving salaries under the federal payroll by the end of August.
‎
‎The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing in Akure, where he gave an update on the institution's transition from the Ondo State-owned University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital to a federal teaching hospital.
‎
‎According to Ojo, the approved take-off establishment was the outcome of a rigorous screening exercise conducted by officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General and other relevant agencies, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the transfer of the hospital to the Federal Government.
‎
‎He explained that although the former teaching hospital already had workers, only those who met the Federal Government's requirements in terms of qualifications, biodata and suitability were approved for absorption into the new federal establishment.
‎
‎"The approved take-off staff strength is 1,200. The names have been forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General and subsequently to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for enrolment and payroll processing," he said.
‎
‎Ojo disclosed that more than 800 approved workers were captured during the first biometric enrolment exercise held in June, while a mop-up exercise took place in Abuja on July 9 for those who missed the initial exercise due to communication, network and fingerprint-related challenges.
‎
‎He said the hospital was still reconciling records from the mop-up exercise and could not immediately confirm how many of the remaining staff had completed the process, adding that everyone approved for employment would be captured before the exercise is concluded.
‎
‎The CMD noted that he had initially hoped salary payments would commence in July but said the delay in completing the capture exercise shifted the timeline to the end of August.
‎
‎Speaking on the recent protests that disrupted the capture exercise, Ojo blamed the development on misinformation and false expectations created by individuals who allegedly misled workers and job seekers into believing that everyone in the former hospital would automatically become federal employees.
‎
‎He maintained that the MoU clearly stipulated that only workers found suitable after assessment would be absorbed, stressing that the transition process had been conducted fairly and in accordance with federal guidelines.
‎
‎Ojo also alleged that some individuals collected money from job seekers and issued fake employment letters months before he assumed office as pioneer Chief Medical Director, promising automatic employment into the new teaching hospital.
‎
‎He said the hospital had compiled complaints over the alleged job racketeering and would forward petitions to the appropriate authorities now that the transition process had substantially progressed.
‎
‎The CMD disclosed that although the Federal Government eventually approved 1,200 take-off staff, the figure was increased after he successfully argued that the initial proposal of 750 workers was inadequate for a teaching hospital.
‎
‎He added that the hospital had begun strengthening its clinical workforce by attracting experienced doctors, surgeons and nurses from other teaching hospitals across the country, despite the nationwide shortage of healthcare professionals.
‎
‎Ojo identified inadequate office accommodation, medical equipment and clinical space as major challenges confronting the institution but expressed optimism that the hospital's take-off grant and other federal interventions would improve infrastructure and service delivery.
‎
‎He also revealed that the management had developed a five-year development plan for the permanent site at the FUTA Medical Campus and was seeking special intervention funding from the Federal Government to accelerate the hospital's expansion.
‎
‎The CMD appealed to labour unions, workers and members of the public to embrace dialogue and support the hospital's transition, expressing confidence that the institution would soon fulfil its mandate of providing quality tertiary healthcare services to residents of Ondo State and beyond.
‎