13, July 2026
The Federal Government has approved the recruitment of *1,200 staff* for the newly established Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital, FUTATH, as part of efforts to ensure a smooth commencement of operations.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, *Dr. Olusegun Ojo*, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Akure on the progress and challenges of the institution.
Dr. Ojo said workers of the hospital will begin to receive salaries under the *Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, by the end of August 2026*.
According to him, over *800 of the approved workers* were successfully captured during the first biometric enrollment exercise conducted in June 2026.
A mop-up exercise was later held in Abuja on *July 9, 2026*, to capture those who missed the initial exercise due to poor network and fingerprint issues.
The CMD noted that he had expected salary payments to start in July, but the delay in completing the data-capturing process pushed the timeline to August.
“Until the Federal Teaching Hospital assumes full responsibility, the Ondo State Government has been bearing the cost of paying salaries under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed for the transition,” he explained.
He added that he is committed to ensuring that all staff are placed on the federal payroll as quickly as possible.
Dr. Ojo said the hospital has already begun building a strong clinical team by recruiting experienced physicians, surgeons, nurses, and other health professionals from other federal teaching hospitals across the country.
This, he said, is to position FUTATH to deliver quality tertiary healthcare services from the outset.
The CMD identified *inadequate office accommodation, shortage of medical equipment, and limited clinical space* as some of the major challenges confronting the new teaching hospital.
He, however, expressed optimism that the hospital’s take-off grant and other federal interventions will help address the infrastructure gaps and improve service delivery.
Speaking on recent protests by some workers, Dr. Ojo attributed the agitation to *misinformation and false expectations* allegedly created by some individuals.
He said some people misled workers and job seekers into believing that every staff of the former state-owned hospital would automatically become federal employees.
The CMD maintained that the MoU clearly stated that *only workers found suitable after assessment would be absorbed*. He stressed that the transition process has been conducted fairly and in line with federal guidelines.
