FUTA Teaching Hospital disowns controversial publication, seeks dialogue to end workers’ dispute
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Management of the FUTA Teaching Hospital, Akure, has distanced itself from a publication on the ongoing industrial dispute at the institution and called on the Ondo State Government, organised labour and other stakeholders to return to dialogue.
The management stated this in a rejoinder signed by the Chief Medical Director, Professor Olusegun Ojo, in response to a publication titled, “Who Will Save FUTA Teaching Hospital from Aiyedatiwa and Organised Labour?”
Ojo said the hospital did not authorise the publication and rejected the allegations, personal descriptions and speculative claims contained in it, particularly those concerning Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, organised labour and individual union leaders.
However, the management acknowledged concerns raised by workers over staff transition, payroll arrangements, trade union rights and the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, saying the issues required constructive engagement among the federal and state governments, labour and hospital management.
It explained that the hospital lacked the unilateral authority to absorb all workers into the Federal Civil Service or alter the terms of the existing MoU, adding that staff verification, eligibility, payroll and other transition matters were subject to government policies and decisions by competent authorities.
The management also rejected allegations based on anonymous sources, hearsay and unverified claims against labour leaders, warning that such assertions could further complicate efforts to resolve the dispute and restore industrial harmony.
It urged the public to rely on official channels for information about the dispute while calling on media practitioners and commentators to uphold accuracy, fairness and the right of reply when reporting issues involving the hospital.
“FUTA Teaching Hospital belongs to all of us,” the management said, extending a hand of friendship to the state government, organised labour and other stakeholders and calling for reconciliation and cooperation to restore full operations at the institution.
