Over 1,500 workers sacked by the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, resumed their protest on Friday morning at the hospital premises over the failure of the management to reverse the decision.
The protesting workers shut down the main gates of the hospital and prevented human and vehicular movement in and out of the complex.
The Point gathered that the workers were protesting the decision of the management to relocate the venue for the suitability test for a few workers that would be considered for employment.
A circular issued by the management and dated March 7, 2024, asked workers who applied as Hospital Consultant, Dental Technologist, Registrar, Health Attendant, Medical Officer, Administrative Officer, Pharmacist, Accountant, Nursing Officer, Health Records Officer, Radiographer, Assistant Catering Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Programme/System Analyst, Physiotherapist, Motor Driver/Mechanic, Dietician, Assistant Craftsman, Medical Laboratory Technologist/Technician, Assistant Technical Officer (Electrical and Biomedical), Health Records Technologist/Technician to assemble at the Command Day Secondary School, Army Barrack, Ara Road, Ede, Osun State on March 9, 2024 for their suitability test.
The Point had reported that the angry workers had recently stormed the venue of the test and disrupted the exercise through protest.
There had been a face-off between security agents and the protesters at the hospital premises during which some workers were arrested and later released.
Upon hearing that the management had relocated the venue of the interview and test to military environment, the sacked workers regrouped and warned their colleagues from attending the suitability test.
Tagged: “Re: Implementation of the Year 2022 Approved Waiver,” the management, in the circular, said, “Given the crisis that followed the earlier slated interview, the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Abuja has taken over the conduct and conclusion of the recruitment exercise under the June 2022 recruitment waiver as granted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Consequently, these are the details for the suitability test; Venue: Command Day Secondary School, Army Barrack, Ara Road, Ede, Osun State.”
The protesting workers called for an emergency congress through a statement signed by their coordinator, Adeyinka Owolade.
The protesters converged at the hospital gate, shut it and asked the management to re-engage them.
