… Begins payroll integration

… Seeks Tinubu’s swift intervention fund to drive 5-year development plan

FUTA Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, has secured federal government approval for its takeoff establishment of 1,200 staff members, who will form the core workforce of the newly transitioned facility.

According to the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, the approval, which was endorsed by the Office of the Head of Service and subsequently forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General, represents a major leap in the hospital’s move from state to federal control.

Prof. Ojo disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the transition process, which has been underway since the federal government took over the former UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure.

The CMD explained that the approved number of members of staff was arrived at after sustained advocacy, as initial proposals had fallen far short of what a teaching hospital of a federal outlook requires.

Prof. Ojo, who expressed confidence that the payroll process would be completed soon, with the goal of having salaries commence by the end of August, revealed that the Ondo State Government has continued to bear salary costs under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

He said, “‎My responsibility is to ensure that everyone approved for this hospital is placed on the payroll as quickly as possible because the Ondo State Government has continued to bear the burden of paying salaries under the terms of the MOU until the Federal Teaching Hospital assumes full responsibility.

“‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has given Ondo State an important federal institution in the form of this teaching hospital. We are determined to lay a solid foundation and work tirelessly to attract every support necessary so that residents no longer have to travel elsewhere for quality healthcare services.”

While addressing recent protests and disruptions that occurred during the capturing exercises, he attributed the development to widespread misunderstanding of the MOU’s provisions.

According to him, some staff and labor leaders had wrongly assumed that all existing employees would be automatically absorbed, whereas the MOU clearly stipulated that only those found suitable would be selected.

He also disclosed that false employment letters had been issued by unauthorized persons, creating unrealistic expectations among job seekers and fueling anger that was misdirected at the hospital leadership.

With the CMD reiterating that the hospital is now a federal establishment, he urged all stakeholders to channel grievances through proper official channels rather than resorting to protests that disrupt patient care.

Prof. Ojo further stressed that the hospital still faces some challenges, including inadequate office and clinical space, a shortage of essential equipment, and a disproportionate ratio of support staff to clinical personnel, noting that federal guidelines recommend a 70:30 clinical‑to‑support ratio.

“The hospital has a vast expanse of land. One of my major assignments is to develop a five-year development plan, which management has already approved. ‎We have also taken advantage of the support of a distinguished patron of the hospital, who played a major role in its establishment, to seek a special intervention fund from the President.

“We are optimistic that this request will receive favorable consideration and enable us to implement our five-year development plan. ‎The permanent site is shared between the College of Health Sciences of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and the teaching hospital. It is known as the FUTA Medical Campus.

“‎The university has already started developing its own section with funding from TETFund. Since taking over our section, we have conducted a survey and are now working on a land utilization design. That design will determine how the land will be developed.”