The Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) has received Federal Government approval to recruit 1,200 core staff as it prepares for its full transition from state to federal control.
The Chief Medical Director of FUTATH, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, announced the development during a briefing on the hospital’s transition process following the Federal Government’s takeover of the former UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure.
Ojo said the approval, granted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, represents a major milestone in staffing the new federal teaching hospital to the required standard.
He explained that the approved workforce strength was achieved after sustained engagement with relevant authorities, noting that earlier proposals fell short of the staffing requirements for a federal teaching hospital.
Speaking on employee welfare, Ojo said efforts are underway to fast-track the hospital’s payroll process so that salary payments can commence by the end of August. He added that the Ondo State Government has continued to pay workers’ salaries under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pending the completion of the Federal Government’s takeover.
“My responsibility is to ensure that everyone approved for this hospital is placed on the payroll as quickly as possible because the Ondo State Government has continued to bear the burden of paying salaries under the terms of the MoU until the Federal Teaching Hospital assumes full responsibility,” Ojo said.
Ojo noted that the establishment of FUTATH aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery while reducing the need for residents of Ondo State to seek specialist medical services elsewhere.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has given Ondo State an important federal institution in the form of this teaching hospital.
“We are determined to lay a solid foundation and work tirelessly to attract every support necessary so that residents no longer have to travel elsewhere for quality healthcare services,” Ojo said.
