By Olalekan Ola
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex(OAUTHC), Prof. John Okeniyi, has stated that the waiver to recruit a total of 450 fresh into clinical and non-clinical position was obtained from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation(OHCSF).
Okeniyi made the disclosure during the online Press Conference on Friday, in Ile-Ife.
He said that the approved waiver was meant to recruit 41 non-clinical and 409 clinical staff into specific cadres.
According to him, the then authorities of the hospital conducted the recruitment exercise in two phases, 230 and 220 respectively.
“But instead of first 230, the then administrators recruited over 600 without due process and most of them were non-clinical posts not.
“During the second phase, instead of (220) recruitments,1,823 staff were appointed, with total number of 2,423, letters of employment given in various cadres instead 450 as approved by the Federal Government”. He explained.
The CMD expressed that 1,973 were victims of this industrial-scale illegal recruitment and they are not clinical personnel whose services were not requested nor required.
According to him, none of them were interviewed, but screening conducted by immediate past acting administration, with no valid application.
“Majority of them did not submit curriculum vitae, many were discovered not to possess the necessary basic qualifications or satisfy the requirements of the National Youth Service Corps.
“A considerable number have attested to being either sponsored, recipients of slots, political patronage or secured the posts by payments of huge sums of money.
” In some instances, the abuse of the dignity of womanhood and dehumanization through sexual
favours occurred.Someof these facts were hitherto in the public domain”.Okeniyi condemned.
The Chief Medical Director stated that
many were captured and payrolled on the various government financial platforms such as IPPIS and GIFMIS despite the illegal recruitments.
He adding that this has been detrimental to the capturing, retention,and payment of the critically needed clinical staff for whom the waiver was meant for in the first instance.
The CMD noted that all these illegal recruitments and job racketeering were done before his appointed as the substantive Chief Medical Director of the Hospital after months of protracted leadership crisis.
He said that Acting Chief Medical Director, Acting Director of Administration Head of Establishment that were found to be culpable were suspended by the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
“The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health directed the Hospital Management to convene a Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee to deal with
and dispose of all cases of illegal recruitment and job racketeering.
“Ministry of Health, directed the Management to enforce compliance to the waiver granted by cleaning the nominal roll and ensuring that persons who had been captured and employed under the 2022 waivers pay-rolled, captured on IPPIS platform.
“And should be made to undergo rigorous suitability competency test to determine their suitability in line with the OHCSF 2022 June waiver, while cadres not captured under waiver should be exited from the services of the Hospital.
“The current Hospital Management is very altruistic and responsible and would continue to act in tandem with the directive and instruction of the supervising Ministry of Health &
Social Welfare” .He quoted.
Okeniyi promised to work collaboratively with all stakeholders,to ensure that the Hospital continues to deliver quality Healthcare services to the populace among the leagues of Federal Teaching Hospitals (FTHIs) across the country.
The CMD appealed to the Public to realise that OAUTHC Management is in no position to pay, employ or sack while illegally recruited persons without authorization.
He condemned the illegality of the 2022 recruitments and job racketeering perpetrated by a few staff which has tainted the public image of the highly industrious and patriotic staff, vibrant Hospital, the Federal Ministry,and the Federal Government.
Okeniyi charged the affected people to take it easy and believed that God will make a way out for them and desist from threatening death to Officers, Staff,and patients.
The CMD said that his administration would refund any amounts spent to procure medical screening tests after they were given letters of employment.
He admonished all members of staff, visitors, patients, clients, and members of the public to maintain decorum and civility as they transact their activities lawfully,within and around the Hospital.
Okeniyi called for assistance of all people of influence and law-enforcement agents remains helpful in calming the inflamed situation and we seek all concerned to exercise restraint.
