FUTATH secures approval for 1,200 take-off staff

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH), Prof. Olusegun Ojo, on Monday disclosed that the institution had secured approval for a take-off staff strength of 1,200 workers.

Ojo, who disclosed this during a press conference in Akure, also said the hospital was close to completing the migration of its workforce to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), assuring that no eligible staff member would be left out of the transition process.

The CMD explained that the institution secured approval for the take-off staff strength of 1,200 workers after successfully convincing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation that, as a teaching hospital, it required a larger workforce than was initially proposed.

He said the hospital was first allocated 750 staff, a figure later increased to 900, before management’s intervention secured approval for 1,200 positions.

While describing the figure as a reasonable starting point, the CMD maintained that it remained inadequate for the hospital’s long-term needs.

He noted that the hospital inherited an imbalance in its workforce, with support staff significantly outnumbering clinical personnel, contrary to the recommended ratio of seven clinical workers to three support staff.

Ojo, however, said the hospital had begun attracting experienced specialists, including consultants and nurses transferring from other federal teaching hospitals, to strengthen its clinical services.

He acknowledged that the nationwide shortage of medical doctors remained a major challenge but expressed optimism that the hospital’s workforce would continue to improve.

The CMD identified inadequate medical equipment, office accommodation and clinical space as key obstacles to effective service delivery, noting that a newly completed building was yet to become operational because it lacked water supply, electricity and furniture.

On funding, Ojo said efforts were ongoing to secure the hospital’s take-off grant, expressing confidence that both the Federal Ministry of Health and senior government officials were working towards its approval.

He added that management had also developed a five-year strategic development plan and was seeking a special presidential intervention fund to accelerate the development of the hospital’s permanent site at the FUTA Medical Campus.

According to him, the teaching hospital had already completed a land survey and was preparing a comprehensive land utilisation plan that would guide future expansion.

Ojo disclosed that patient attendance had continued to increase despite temporary disruptions caused by industrial action, assuring that the hospital remained committed to improving healthcare delivery as more resources became available.

Addressing the controversy surrounding recent protests over staff recruitment, Ojo alleged that some individuals fraudulently collected money from job seekers with false promises of securing employment at the teaching hospital.

He said fake employment letters had been issued months before he assumed office in October, stressing that he neither authorised nor had knowledge of such appointments.

According to Ojo, the fraudulent activities created unrealistic expectations among job seekers, leading some of them to direct their grievances at the hospital management.

He disclosed that management had compiled complaints from victims and might forward petitions to the appropriate law enforcement agencies now that the establishment process had been concluded.

“We received reports that some people collected money from job seekers and issued fake employment letters, claiming they would be absorbed into the teaching hospital.

“Those letters were dated months before I assumed office. We are compiling the complaints and will petition the appropriate authorities where necessary,” he said.