By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Following the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, job racketeering unrest, the Acting, Administration Director Balogun Tajudeen, has been suspended while the Chief Medical Director, CMD Dr. Owojuyigbe Olumuyiwa has absconded from his duty post.
The OAUTH Acting Director of Administration was suspended after the intervention by the Ministry of Health.
In a press statement signed by the Director of Information Patricia Deworitshe, the Ministry of Health stated that the unrest is attributed to the alleged job racketeering/ over employment saga in the establishment, under the former Chief Medical Director,(CMD) Dr. Owojuyigbe Olumuyiwa who employed over 1,973 staff as against the 450 vacancies waiver granted in the 2022 employment by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), which is flagrant abuse of extant rules and regulations.
The hospital conducted the exercise in 2 phases (230&220) after securing approval of the Federal Character Commission not to advertise the posts.
During the first phase, the hospital recruited 600 instead of 230, and a total of 1,823 staff members were recruited in the second phase instead of 220.
At the end of the 2 phases, the hospital recruited 2,423 staff instead of 450. As such, 1,973 staff members were recruited in excess of the approved waiver.
In August 2023, an investigative panel was set up,led by Dr. Aderemi Azeez,from the Ministry, and the report of the panel states that the former Chief Medical Director, (CMD) Dr.Owojuyigbe Olumuyiwa, was embroiled in over-employment/ job racketeering
in the establishment, without provision in the personnel budget for over 1,973 workers illegally employed.
The report further showed that the 450 workers waiver granted to the OAUTH was for the recruitment of clinical staff, but only 55 clinical staff were employed, while others were non clinical staff.
The outcome of the recruitment exercise also revealed that OAUTH has staff strength of 7279( out of which 3034 were clinical staff and 4245 were non- clinical staff, this translates to a non clinical staff ratio of approximately 1:1 instead of the recommended 3:1, that is 3 clinical to 1non – clinical).
The report also revealed that many recruited staff were without requisite academic and professional certificates as well as evidence of National Youth Service Corps Certificates.
Currently, Dr Owojuyigbe Olumuyiwa who was appointed in acting capacity in March 2023,has absconded from his duty post since July 2023, while his co- culprit Mr Balogun Tajudeen, who was the Acting Director Admin has been suspended for their involvement in the job racketeering saga.
