Workers from the former University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) facility in Akure, Ondo State, on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office and the Ondo State House of Assembly to demand the payment of three months’ unpaid salaries and to protest their transition process.
Workers at the former UNIMEDTH facility in Akure, Ondo State, on Monday protested an alleged forced integration into the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH).
They also demanded payment for three months of unpaid salaries and the inclusion of omitted names on the staff list
The workers marched from the UNIMEDTH/FUTATH facility to the Ondo State House of Assembly and the Governor’s Office, calling on the government to address their grievances.
They alleged an attempt to force them to integrate into FUTATH against their wishes.
They opposed any arrangement that would compel workers to join the FUTATH without their consent, insisting that the government must intervene to ensure that decisions affecting their employment were made through a fair and transparent process.
The protesters said they embarked on the demonstration to draw the attention of the Ondo State Government to their plights.
“We do not want the management to force us to join FUTATH against our wishes.
“We want the government to intervene and ensure that every decision concerning our members is handled fairly and transparently,” they said.
The workers also expressed concern over the non-payment of three months’ salaries.
They described the situation as a serious hardship for employees who depend on their earnings to provide to meet their financial obligations.
The workers demanded immediate action by the state government to ensure that all outstanding salaries were paid.
“We are demanding urgent action regarding our three months of unpaid salaries.
“Our members have families and responsibilities, and we can no longer continue to suffer without being paid for our work,” the said.
The protesting employees further raised concerns over the omission of some workers’ names from a list published by FUTATH, saying those affected were bona fide staff members whose employment status needed to be clarified.
The workers stated that the absence of their names from the published list has created uncertainty about their employment and future.
They called on the government and the hospital management to explain why the names of some workers were missing from the list and clarify what would happen to those whose employment status remained uncertain.
“Some workers are bona fide staff members, yet their names are missing from the list published by FUTATH.
“We want the government to clarify their employment status and explain what will happen to these workers.
“They deserve justice, recognition, and a clear decision regarding their future,” they stated.
The workers appealed to the Ondo State Government to urgently intervene in the dispute, address the outstanding salary payments, resolve the controversy surrounding the staff list and ensure that any decision concerning integration into FUTATH was handled transparently.
While demanding justice for all affected employees, the protesters declared that they would not accept a situation in which some of them would continue to work without being paid.
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