Disgruntled former employees of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, took to the hospital premises on Friday to protest against the management’s decision not to revoke their termination.
Over 1,500 workers were laid off by the Federal Government over alleged irregularities in their recruitment process.
The protesters opposed a circular issued by the hospital management, which announced an examination for certain positions that would potentially be reinstated.
Blocking the main gates of the hospital, the protesters halted both human and vehicular movement into and out of the complex. Samson Falope, one of the dismissed staff, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the circular stated the examination would take place on March 9 at the Command Day Secondary School, Army Barrack, Ede, Osun.
“What we discovered was that the circular for the recruitment exercise under the June 2022 recruitment waiver has been released, which led to the protest. The relevant ministry has been notified, and both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are aware. We are awaiting their intervention and resolution. We are hopeful that the examination would be suspended indefinitely,” Falope said.
Responding to inquiries, the Public Relations Officer of OAUTHC, Miss Kemi Fasoto, informed NAN that the examination would proceed as scheduled and be conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.