The Management of the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) on Thursday clarified that the Federal Government has not taken over the wages of all employees, but only those of non-regular staff recruited after the hospital’s transition to a federal institution.
The clarification comes amid the lingering industrial crisis that has grounded activities at the hospital, with workers protesting issues surrounding the transition process and conditions of service.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Mr. Tope Fayehun, the management explained that there are currently two categories of workers in the hospital whose salaries are being paid by different tiers of government in line with the transition arrangement.
According to the statement, permanent employees inherited from the former state-owned hospital remain on the payroll of the Ondo State Government, while the Federal Government is responsible for the remuneration of non-regular personnel engaged to sustain healthcare services following the hospital’s takeover.
The management said the clarification became necessary following comments recently attributed to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Olusegun Ojo, which it noted had been misconstrued to mean that the Federal Government had assumed responsibility for the salaries of all workers.
“The comments credited to the Chief Medical Director were never intended to suggest that the Federal Government had taken over the payment of salaries for all workers,” the statement said.
It explained that “the Federal Government’s intervention has specifically covered the remuneration of non-regular personnel recruited to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services during the transition period, while the Ondo State Government has continued to fulfil its obligation to permanent employees.”
The management further stated that the salary arrangement is consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government during the transfer of the hospital, noting that both governments have continued to discharge their respective responsibilities pending the full implementation of the transition process.
According to the statement, “both governments have continued to play their respective roles in ensuring the smooth operation of the institution pending the full implementation of the transition process.”
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and quality healthcare delivery, the management urged members of the public and other stakeholders to disregard misconceptions capable of creating unnecessary tension around the institution.
It also commended both the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government for their continued support throughout the transition process and appealed for sustained cooperation from workers and stakeholders to enable the hospital consolidate its status as a federal tertiary health institution.
Fidelis David
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