FUTA Teaching Hospital Accuses Workers Of Employment Fraud

By Ayodele Oni 

The Management of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Teaching Hospital, Akure, has alleged that some staff of the hospital that wanted to cover up their previous fraud were behind the recent workers strike.

It maintained that some of the workers agitations while the strike lasted were self driven and intended to cover up their financial malfeasances that had been committed before the teaching hospital took off.

A statement on Saturday, signed by Tooe Fayehun, head of public relations, stated that “The Management has become aware of allegations that certain persons fronting as important officers had collected monies and gratification from job seekers with promises of securing placement in the new Hospital.

“Management raised serious concern over the recent protests and campaigns aimed at discrediting the institution. 

“The agitation is being driven, in part, by individuals and interests seeking to cover up their financial malfeasances that had been committed by them in the run up to the take off of the staff of the now-defunct UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure into the new Federal Teaching Hospital, which succeeded the old.”

It alleged that job applicants reportedly paid sums ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦600,000, and were issued with receiving “appointment letters” in the name of the Management of the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure.

“The Management has also received reports that some of affected job-seekers, names withheld, are now demanding refunds from the fraudsters, after it was clear that they were not going to be absorbed into the Federal establishment, as they had been promised.

“It is against this backdrop that the Management believes the public deserves to know that the current agitation may not be solely about workers’ welfare, but could also be linked to efforts by the fraudsters to cover up or divert attention from these serious allegations.

“The Management wishes to reaffirm that the transition to FUTA Teaching Hospital had been governed by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government.

“The agreement did not provide for the automatic absorption of every individual associated with the former institution.

“Consequently, the Management could not have circumvented established Federal Government guidelines or compromise due process to satisfy external pressure, which is been mounted remotely by these influential fraudsters.”