The management of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo, has refuted claims by the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) that the Federal Government has been responsible for the payment of staff salaries at the newly established federal institution.

In a statement signed by the Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Prof. Michael Gbala, he described the assertion as false, insisting that the Ondo State Government has borne the financial burden of sustaining the hospital’s workforce since the transition began in October 2023.

The controversy stems from a purported claim credited to the management of FUTATH, which reportedly stated that “the Federal Government continues to invest substantial resources in its growth and remains responsible for the payment of staff salaries and other crucial obligations.”

While describing the position as a misrepresentation of facts, the UNIMEDTH CMD clarified that the state government, through UNIMEDTH, has been solely responsible for salary payments from the handover of the facility in October 2025 up to June 2026.

Gbala disclosed that the state government has expended over ₦2.3 billion on salaries and emoluments for staff currently working at FUTATH, despite the institution having been ceded to the federal government.

The UNIMEDTH CMD emphasized that “this extraordinary financial commitment was made in good faith and in strict compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the transition.

“The payments were intended to bridge the gap pending the completion of the federal government’s staff verification and absorption process.

“It is therefore incorrect and unfair for the management of FUTATH to create the impression that the federal government has been responsible for the payment of these salaries throughout the period under reference.”

He added that such a claim “undermines the enormous financial sacrifice made by the Ondo State Government and misrepresents facts that are easily verifiable.”

Gbala reaffirmed UNIMEDTH’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and faithful implementation of the MoU’s provisions.

He stressed that public institutions owe the public a duty of truthfulness and accuracy in all official communications.

Gbala noted that the Ondo State Government deserves due recognition for the financial burden it has shouldered in sustaining the workforce during the transition.

The development comes amid ongoing labor disputes at FUTATH, which have prompted intervention from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The Federal Government had earlier approved a takeoff establishment of 1,200 staff for FUTATH, following a verification exercise conducted by an interministerial committee between December 8 and 12, 2025.

The staff absorption exercise resulted in 265 workers of the former state-owned hospital being deemed ineligible for absorption into the Federal Civil Service, with recommendations for their redeployment to the Ondo State Government.