… Insists restructuring follows public service rules, legal statutes

… Urges union to embrace dialogue, says walkout baseless

The management of FUTA Teaching Hospital (FUTATH), Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed allegations levelled against it by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), describing the union’s industrial action as unnecessary and avoidable amid ongoing dialogue.

According to the management, the issues raised by the union were misrepresented in a manner it described as being capable of creating tension within the hospital community and among members of the public.

The teaching hospital’s position was coming on the heels of the directive issued by the NUAHP instructing its members to withdraw services from the facility over grievances bordering on organogram restructuring and the appointment of two deputy chairmen of the Medical Advisory Committee.

According to a statement signed by the Head, Public Relations Unit of the hospital, Tope Fayehun, following the transfer of the facility to the federal government, management developed an organogram consistent with operational structures obtainable in standard federal teaching hospitals across the country.

Fayehun disclosed that the objective of the restructuring was to ensure administrative efficiency, professional harmony, and improved healthcare service delivery in line with global best practices.

While emphasising that management had at no time acted outside the provisions of extant public service rules, legal statutes, or approved schemes of service, the medical institution stressed that the administrative adjustments were designed to strengthen institutional coordination and ensure effective service delivery across all professional departments and units within the hospital.

The statement read in parts, “It is important to emphasise that after several meetings and deliberations, management and the union jointly reached twenty-three (23) resolutions based on the approved scheme of service for medical laboratory scientists. ” Management also assured all professionals working within the four pathology departments that there would be mutual respect, collaboration, and professional harmony without discrimination or rivalry.

“Surprisingly, despite these assurances and agreements, the Union resurrected its demand for the creation of a separate Department of Medical Laboratory Services outside the operational structure obtainable in most Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country.

“Management therefore views the current strike action as unnecessary, avoidable, and not in the overall interest of patients, healthcare delivery, and the smooth transition of the hospital into a world-class federal teaching hospital.

“Furthermore, it is important to state that the affected staff remain employees of the Ondo State Government pending the completion of their full transition into the Federal Teaching Hospital system. Management therefore urges the Union leadership to embrace dialogue, professionalism, and lawful engagement rather than actions capable of disrupting critical healthcare services to the helpless patients who need serious care at this period.

“The management of Futa Teaching Hospital remains committed to fairness, inclusiveness, staff welfare, and the continued delivery of quality healthcare services to the public.

“We also reaffirm our commitment to maintaining cordial relationships with all professional groups within the hospital while ensuring strict compliance with established rules and operational standards guiding Federal Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria.”