• Management suspend test

Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

There was anxiety within the premises of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun state on Tuesday as security operatives shot sporadically into here to disperse protesters at the hospital complex.

It would be recalled that crisis hit the institution following the decision of the management to sack about 2,000 workers on the grounds of job racketeering which led to the employment of workers above the 450 slots allowed by the federal government in its 2022 waivers.

However, the management in its memo decided to restrict and allow only those specified in the waiver to come back for suitability test and return to their duty post.

The decision, however, did not go well with some of the troubled workers, who felt such an examination would mean that they forget over 15 months’ salaries owed them by the management and decided to stage peaceful protests against the test scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, February 12 & 13, 2024.

The protesters stormed the hospital on Tuesday to ensure that the suitability test did not hold like they did on Monday, but the management had drafted joint security operatives to the venue.

The presence of the protesters frustrated management effort to hold the suitability test, as they (protesters) were singing solidarity song and persuading members not to take part in the process.

After efforts by security operatives to persuade the protesters to leave the venue proved abortive, some of the operatives started shooting sporadically into the air forcing the protesters to run for safety.

Spokesperson of the protesters, Samson Falope, who spoke on behalf of others berated the security operatives for shooting at peaceful protesters in a hospital environment, saying, “it is unfortunate that security operatives were shooting live bullets and tear gas at peaceful protesters, who were not armed inside a hospital premises.

“We are only demanding our rights to be paid arrears of salaries ranging between 10 to 15 months. We have been screened and even audited about four times, yet, OAUTH management is insisting that we come to write suitability test after paying some of us affected by the same excuse?

“The federal government should investigate anyone involve in job racketeering and punish them rather than generalizing the situation”.

Efforts to get OAUTH Public Relations Officer, Kemi Fasooto proved futile as his mobile line was said to be switched off. However, a statement signed by the management tagged ”Public Statement III”, after the incident claimed that miscreant disrupted the suitability test the management was mandated to conduct by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, hence the test has been suspended indefinitely.

“Unfortunately, during this process, miscreants and protesters, some of whom were armed, forcibly occupied the hospital premises. They held key staff members hostage and obstructed interested individuals from participating in the interview process. Local security personnel were present but unable to prevent these disruptions. Ensuring the safety of our properties, patients, and staff in this tense environment has become increasingly challenging. It is important to note that our security personnel have adhered to Management’s non-lethal force guidelines despite facing threatening situations.

“Given these security concerns and adverse reports, the management has received a directive from the FMoH&SW, Abuja, to immediately suspend the recruitment exercise under the June 2022 waiver.

“Applicants and interested parties are advised to await further information from the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare once normalcy and peace are restored”, the statement reads.