Posted on: Tue 14-07-2026

The Federal Government has approved a pioneer workforce of 1,200 employees for the newly established Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital in Ondo State, marking a major step in the institution's transition from state to federal ownership.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Olusegun Ojo, disclosed this during a media briefing in Akure yesterday.

Ojo said the approval followed a comprehensive verification exercise involving officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to him, the approved workforce will enable the hospital to commence full operations as a federal tertiary healthcare institution.

He explained that officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies assessed workers of the former University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) between December 8 and 12, 2025, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the transfer of the facility.

The CMD said each employee was evaluated based on qualifications, biodata and suitability for appointment into the federal public service before the final approval was granted.

"After extensive engagement, the Federal Government approved a take-off staff strength of 1,200. The document was endorsed by the Head of the Civil Service and forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General for processing through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)," Ojo said.

He revealed that more than 800 workers were captured during the initial IPPIS biometric exercise conducted between June 8 and 13, while a mop-up exercise was held in Abuja on July 9 for employees who missed the first phase due to communication and network challenges.

Ojo expressed confidence that the newly approved staff would begin receiving salaries by the end of next month after the payroll process is completed.

He noted that the Ondo State Government has continued to pay workers' salaries under the terms of the MoU pending the Federal Government's full takeover of the institution's payroll.

Describing the payroll transition as a major milestone, the CMD said the successful absorption of the approved workforce was crucial to the establishment of the federal teaching hospital.

Addressing recent protests by some workers and labour unions over the staff absorption process, Ojo maintained that only employees who satisfied the conditions outlined in the MoU were eligible for appointment into the federal service.

He attributed the protests to misinformation, stressing that the agreement did not provide for the automatic absorption of all existing workers.

"The Memorandum of Understanding clearly states that only those found suitable will be appointed. That is exactly what we have implemented with diligence and fairness," he said.

Ojo commended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for intervening during the initial disruption of the verification exercise, saying the governor appealed for calm and ensured the process continued without further interruption.

He also appealed to workers, patients and the public to remain patient as the hospital completes its transition, urging aggrieved individuals to seek redress through legitimate channels rather than disrupting healthcare services.

The CMD further praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the federal teaching hospital and thanked Governor Aiyedatiwa for his continued support throughout the transition process.

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