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Unpaid OAUTHC workers stage peaceful protest over 14-month salary arrears

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By Jeleel Olawale

The Association of unpaid Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) workers, on Thursday, in Ile-Ife, staged a peaceful protest over unpaid 14-month salary.

The Coordinator of the group, Mr Samson Falope, told NewsDirect, on Thursday, in Ile-Ife, that the protest is basically to kick against the circular released by the management yesterday which stated among other things that their appointment was illegal.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as, “Say no to injustice,” “Okeniyi must go,” “Okeniyi pay our 14-month salary,” “Our demand is clear, pay our 14- month salary,” “You are such a wicked man.”

Falope said that some of them were employed from 2022 and their names were on their duty roster and fully engaged without pay.

“We tried our efforts to ensure that the salaries were paid but the management turned a deaf ear to it. People worked but were not being paid.

“We have been working day and night, some worked for weekends and were not paid.

“The Ministry of Health officials came to the institution for capturing, hoping that we would be paid but nothing of such happened,” he lamented.

According to him, “The present administration came up with a circular of sacking us which is not acceptable to us. Our demand is that we reject in its entirety the decision of the Okeniyi-led administration.

“We have not seen any circular emanating from the Federal Ministry of Health that indicated our sacking. Our salary is overdue and we have worked for about 14 to 15 months without pay.

“Our people are suffering, the management should pay us our salary. We will not leave here if our salary is not paid.

“The circular released by the hospital management on Wednesday is nothing but economical with the truth. We are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the management to pay our salary before the institution is made ungovernable for them,” he reaffirmed.

Also, one of the victims, Samson Ogunleye, appointed as Higher Executive Officer, said that they did not come to damage property or cause any violence but to protest peacefully to demand for the payment of their salaries.

Ogunleye, adding that people were employed with their letter of appointment and worked for 14 and 15 Months respectively, urged federal government and hospital management to pay them their salaries.

According to him, they paid a medical fee of N50,000 and there was a committee sent from Abuja that came twice for screening of their certificate.

He stated that they wrote a letter to the Ministry of Health, promising they are coming, they gave us a 10 days ultimatum that lapsed last week.

“And we got a letter signed by the Acting Director of Administration, Mr O.O. Omonije through the CMD, Prof. John Okeniyi, that those that were recruited from 2022, their jobs remain illegal.

The release read: “In order to comply with the June 2022 waiver as directed, only the categories of staff cited in the June, 2022 approved waiver from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as listed below would be considered for rigorous suitability test for employment with these cadres.

“The cadres for test are hospital Consultant, Registrar, Medical Officer, Pharmacist, Nursing Officer, Radiographer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Physiotherapist, Dietician, Dental Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technologist/Technician, Assistant Technical Officer (Electrical and Biomedical among others

“Others are; Health Attendant, Administrative Officer, Accountant, Health Records Officer, Health Records Technologist/Technician, Assistant Catering Officer, Programme/System Analyst, Motor Driver/Mechanic, Assistant Craftsman.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Miss Kemi Fasoto, said that the management is waiting for the directive of the Minister of Health and social welfare on the issue.

Recall that the management of the institution in a circular released on Wednesday, titled; “Re: Implementation of the Year 2022 Approved Waiver,” with reference no: OAUTHC/160/VOLII/272 and signed by Mr O.O. Omonije, Acting Director of Administration.

The release directed that any person or group not cited on the list are advised to cease from conducting or parading themselves as staff of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.

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Mushin LG Chairman flags off construction of Yusuf Street road, promises solar lighting

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The Mushin Local Government Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye on Wednesday flagged off the construction of Yusuf Street road in Papa Ajao.

The project is expected to bring relief to residents and traders in the area and is set to be completed within six months.

According to Bamigboye, the project is a fulfillment of his campaign promise to the people of Mushin, and he expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to execute the project.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and the local government to ensure the successful completion of the project.

The councillor representing the ward, Ayomide Abioye, expressed his joy and appreciation for the project, stating that it is the longest street in Papa Ajao and will bring immense benefit to the community.

Also, the Baba Oloja of Ladipo International Market, Eze Monday, also commended the Executive Chairman for the project, stating that it will make a significant impact on the development of the area.

The project includes the construction of the road and the installation of solar lighting, which is expected to enhance security and facilitate economic activities in the area.

Residents and traders in the area have been warned not to disturb the contractor or disrupt the project in any way.

Meanwhile, the traders applauded Hon. Bamigboye for demonstrating its commitment to infrastructural development and the welfare of its citizens.

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Giving back to community — Prof Oyedokun speaks on motives

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Lead Facilitator Professor of Accounting & Financial Development Founder OGE, Prof. Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun, has disclosed that giving back to society community is his motive for pursuing his career.

He made the disclosure in an article titled “My motive for running a free professional diploma course in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation is of several folds.”

He said, “Running a free professional diploma course in forensic accounting and fraud investigation is also motivated by my desire to give back to the community.

“By sharing my expertise and knowledge without any financial barriers, I am helping individuals from diverse backgrounds and financial situations to acquire valuable skills and advance their careers.”

The academic reiterated that the motive for running a free professional diploma course in forensic accounting and fraud investigation is centred around education, skill development, community service, and professional growth.

It is a way to contribute to the accounting profession, address a skill gap, and empower individuals in their pursuit of knowledge and career advancement.

According to him, “Promoting Education and Professional Development to contribute to the growth and development of the accounting profession by providing individuals with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in the specialised field of forensic accounting and fraud investigation.

“By offering this free course, i am enabling aspiring professionals to access valuable education that might otherwise be costly or inaccessible.”

The Don addressing the need for expertise in Forensic Accounting said, “In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for professionals skilled in forensic accounting and fraud investigation due to the rise in financial crimes and fraudulent activities. By offering this free course, I am helping to address this skill gap and aiding in the fight against financial fraud.”

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Airport tolls: Nigeria lost billions under old rules — Keyamo

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the Federal Government lost 82 percent which is equivalent to N10 billion in revenue that ought to accrue from airport tollgates under old rules.

Keyamo revealed this to State House correspondents during the week at the end of a two-day meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

The minister lamented that the ministry accumulated 82 percent in the negative from the complimentary e-tags printed by the ministry, noting that 82 percent of the e-tags are given free of charge to VIPs.

He stated, “Let me give you the shocking statistics. The negative figure that we get at the end of the day from the complimentary e-tags is 82 percent, in the negative.

“In other words, where we are supposed to have a 100 per cent contract on the e-costs from these e-tags that we print, it is only 18 per cent that we now end up selling. That is how bad it is. 18 per cent and 82 per cent of these e-tags are given out free of charge to VIPs. So, imagine the loss in my sector, and I ask myself,Which other sector will I go to that they give me anything free?’

“Is it because I’m a VIP that you say that in FCT, I should not pay land charges that you waive it for me? I pay for that sector. I pay for power. Yes, I pay for everything. So, why would anybody now come to my own sector and want to get free passage? Not possible. That is how bad it is.”

He added that free e-tags to the VIPs had in the past led to the loss of billions of naira

“So this has led in the past to loss of billions of naira, not millions, annually. Yet, our airport infrastructure, you know, is decaying. I am helpless. I’m looking for concessionaires. I’m looking for help with decaying infrastructure.

“They will be the first to cry out, these same VIPs – ‘why are the toilets like this? Why are your toilets smelling? Why can’t you do this?’ They are the same people, but they don’t pay for the services. So, if we want improved infrastructure at the airport, we must pay for services,” he said.

The minister lamented that due to the policy of exemption, the ministry makes only about N100 million instead of making about N260 million from a particular airport gate every month.

“I’ll give you another example. In one of the access gates, based on the count of the barrier going up and down, we are supposed to be making N250m or 260 million from that gate every month. That gate, because of exemptions, the return to us is less than N100 million every month,” he added.

To end the loss, the FEC decided that the president, vice president, and other top government functionaries would start paying access fees or the e-tag at all 24 federal airports across the country.

Prior to this development, the president, vice president, and some government officials were exempted from paying access fees at the airports’ gates.

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