By Vincess Okushi
The coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate has said that the unrest being witnessed in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife is a result of job racketeering and employment, under the former Chief Medical Director,(CMD) Dr. Owojuyigbe Olumuyiwa.
A statement by Patricia Deworitshe, Director of Information Federal Ministry of Health on 19th November, 2023 revealed that.
The attention of the Federal Ministry of Health said It has become necessary to wade into the matter to set the record straight, adding that 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 a flagrant abuse of extant rules and regulations.The hospital conducted the exercise in 2 phases (230&220) after securing approval from 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 more than the approved waiver. Owojuyigbe noted that 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 noted 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. It was revealed that OAUTH has a 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) even as it revealed that many of the 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 in acting capacity in March 2023, has absconded from his duty post since July 2023, while his culprit Mr Balogun Tajudeen, who was the Acting Director Admin has been suspended for their involvement in the job racketing saga.
