More than 1,500 employees who were dismissed by the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife have resumed their protest due to the management’s failure to reverse the decision. The workers gathered at the hospital premises on Friday morning, expressing their discontent by blocking the main gates and disrupting both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
The workers were protesting against the management’s decision to relocate the venue for a suitability test for a select group of employees being considered for reemployment. The hospital administration had terminated over 2,000 workers in February after allegations of job racketeering involving management and staff members surfaced.
During the protest, a confrontation ensued between security personnel and the demonstrators, resulting in the arrest and subsequent release of some workers. These employees had been recruited by the hospital between 2022 and 2023.
In response to the upheaval, a circular issued by the management on March 7, 2024, instructed applicants for various positions to gather at a new venue in Osun State for their suitability tests. However, upon learning that the venue had been relocated to a military facility, the dismissed workers regrouped and cautioned their colleagues against participating in the tests.
The situation escalated further as a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare indicated that they would oversee the recruitment process due to the earlier disruptions.
“Consequently, these are the details for the suitability test; Venue: Command Day Secondary School, Army Barrack, Ara Road, Ede, Osun State.
“Date: Saturday, 9th March, 2024.
“Arrival Time: 7:00 a.m.
“You are to come with the following documents both in original and photocopies to the venue:
“(i) Letter(s) of Appointment; (iii) Credentials; (ii) Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age; (iv) HP Pencil.”
