Ondo workers threaten indefinite strike over alleged anti-union practices

By Boye Oyeyemi

Organised Labour in Ondo State has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Teaching Hospital, Professor Olusegun Sylvester Ojo, alleging breach of a Memorandum of Understanding, victimisation of union members and actions capable of disrupting industrial harmony at the institution.

The ultimatum, jointly signed by the Ondo State Chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Prince Ademola Olapade, and the Trade Union Congress, Clement Fatuase, followed a strategic meeting of labour and health sector unions held on July 16, 2026.

The unions accused the hospital management of excluding workers listed on the agreed nominal roll from the transition process, compelling some employees to renounce their union membership and intimidating labour leaders, describing the actions as violations of workers’ constitutional rights and established labour laws.

“We are deeply disturbed by the apparent breach of the Memorandum of Understanding and reports that workers were compelled to renounce their membership of duly registered trade unions as a condition for participating in the transition process,” the statement read.

The labour leaders also faulted the alleged claim by the hospital management that the nominal roll attached to the MoU was “loaded,” insisting that the staff list had earlier been verified during a stakeholders’ meeting involving the Ondo State Governor, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, and other parties.

According to the statement, the unions demanded the immediate enrolment of all workers captured on the authenticated nominal roll into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, an end to alleged anti-union practices and the cessation of intimidation or victimisation of labour leaders.

“Failure to comply with these demands within the seven-day ultimatum will leave Organised Labour with no option but to activate all lawful industrial dispute mechanisms, including an indefinite strike that could result in the total shutdown of FUTATH,” the unions warned.

The labour organisations added that they would also petition the appropriate authorities to review the continued stay of the Chief Medical Director in office if the demands were ignored, insisting that responsibility for any disruption of services at the hospital would rest solely with the management.