A looming industrial crisis is threatening operations at the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) as organised labour in Ondo State issued a seven-day ultimatum to the hospital management, warning of an indefinite strike over alleged violations of the transition agreement and workers’ rights.
The ultimatum, jointly signed by the Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Prince Ademola Olapade, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Clement Fatuase, accused the management of breaching the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that guided the transition of the former State Specialist Hospital into a federal teaching hospital.
The labour union said the decision followed resolutions reached at a strategic meeting of organised labour and health sector unions in FUTATH, alleging that the management had failed to enrol all workers captured on the authenticated nominal roll into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) despite previous agreements reached by stakeholders.
The unions further alleged that some workers inherited from the former state hospital were compelled to renounce their membership of recognised trade unions before being allowed to participate in the transition process.
The union described the action as a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of association and internationally recognised labour standards.
The labour leaders also rejected the Chief Medical Director’s claim that the nominal roll attached to the MoU had already been “loaded,” insisting that the issue had been resolved at a stakeholders’ meeting involving Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the FUTA Vice-Chancellor, organised labour and other parties.
According to them, salary records presented at the meeting validated the staff list contained in the MoU, making any contrary position unacceptable.
They equally accused the hospital management of intimidation, victimisation and witch-hunting of labour leaders over legitimate union activities, demanding the immediate enrolment of all affected workers on IPPIS, an end to alleged anti-union practices and full implementation of the transition agreement.
The unions warned that failure to meet the demands within seven days would leave them with no option than to commence an indefinite strike capable of disrupting healthcare services at the hospital.
They also threatened to notify the relevant authorities that the Chief Medical Director’s continued stay in office had become an obstacle to industrial peace if the issues remained unresolved.
Copies of the ultimatum were forwarded to the Presidency, the Minister of Health, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as security agencies, including the Police, DSS and NSCDC.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of FUTATH, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, dismissed allegations of wrongdoing, insisting that the transition was being implemented strictly in line with the Memorandum of Understanding.
Ojo maintained that only workers cleared and approved by the Federal Ministry of Health after due verification could be absorbed into the federal workforce.
According to him, more than 800 workers have already been captured on the IPPIS, while a mop-up exercise has been conducted for those who missed the initial enrolment.
He attributed the growing tension to what he described as a misunderstanding of the provisions of the MoU, stressing that the agreement did not guarantee automatic absorption of every worker.
The CMD appealed to labour leaders and affected workers to embrace dialogue and existing dispute resolution mechanisms instead of disrupting hospital services.
He, however, assured that the management remained committed to a transparent transition process and the prompt enrolment of all duly approved personnel.
