FUTATH assures Ondo residents of quality healthcare services

Olusegun Ojo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the newly established Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital in Ondo State, has expressed confidence that the institution would soon fulfil its mandate of providing quality tertiary healthcare services to residents of Ondo State and beyond.

Ojo, who disclosed that the Federal Government has approved a take-off workforce of 1,200 staff for the newly established teaching hospital, during a briefing with journalists on Monday in Akure, the state capital explained that the approval followed a rigorous verification process involving officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

He said the approved establishment would enable the hospital to commence full operations as a federal tertiary health institution.

According to him, officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies conducted an assessment of workers of the former University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) between December 8 and 12, 2025, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the transition.

He explained that each member of staff was screened based on qualifications, biodata and suitability for appointment into the federal public service before the final approval was granted.

“After extensive engagement, the Federal Government approved a take-off staff strength of 1,200. The document was endorsed by the Head of Service and transmitted to the Office of the Accountant-General for onward processing through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS),” Prof. Ojo declared.

The CMD said over 800 workers were initially captured during the IPPIS biometric exercise conducted between June 8 and June 13, while a mop-up exercise was held in Abuja on July 9 for those who missed the first phase due to communication and network challenges.

He expressed optimism that the newly approved workers would begin receiving salaries by the end of August this year after completion of the payroll process.

According to him, the Ondo State government has continued to pay the salaries of workers under the terms of the MoU pending the full assumption of responsibility by the federal government.

Ojo described the payroll transition as a significant achievement, noting that taking over the hospital’s workforce was critical to the successful establishment of the institution.

The CMD also addressed recent protests by some workers and labour unions over the staff absorption process, insisting that only personnel who met the requirements of the MoU could be employed into the federal establishment.

He attributed the protest to misinformation, stressing that the agreement never guaranteed automatic absorption of all existing workers.

“The Memorandum of Understanding clearly states that only those found suitable would be appointed. That is exactly what we have implemented with diligence and fairness,” the CMD said.

He commended the Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for intervening during the initial disruption, saying the governor appealed for calm and allowed the verification exercise to continue.

The CMD also appealed to staff, patients and the public to remain patient as the institution continues its transition, while urging aggrieved individuals to pursue legitimate channels for resolving grievances rather than disrupting hospital activities.