Strike paralyses activities at LAUTECH

December 18, 2013 • By Our Reporter
… Relatives withdraw patients 

From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo
Medical and non-medical activities have been grounded at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) in Osogbo, Osun State, following an indefinite strike embarked upon by all categories of workers in the hospital.
The teaching hospital is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states.

The strike, which commenced last week, it was learnt, had forced many patients to vacate the hospital as their relatives were reportedly forced to take them to private hospitals and other neghbouring hospitals especially the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH).

Daily Sun gathered that the strike was occasioned by the non-payment of salaries of workers of the hospital by the Oyo State Government whose turn, it was to pay salaries from July to December in line with the existing counterpart arrangement for the funding of the hospital.

The staff of the hospital began to experience hard times when the former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, established another teaching hospital of the university in his home town, Ogbomosho and transferred all natives of Oyo State working in Osogbo to the new hospital.

He had, during the tail end of his administration, attempted to alter the ownership of the hospital but failed at the Supreme Court when the court ordered that the joint ownership subsisted.

However, the situation in the hospital remained the same even when Abiola Ajimobi resumed as the governor of Oyo State. He was alleged to often owe workers’ salaries when it was the turn of the state government to pay.

It was gathered that the staff of the hospital were owed three months salary arrears, even as the professionals in the hospital were denied all benefits and entitlements.

When Daily Sun visited the hospital yesterday, the gate of the main entrance to the hospital was locked with security agents stationed there.

The hospital was deserted as most of the wards visited were empty when our correspondent visited the hospital and attempted to see the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Femi Fadiora.

It was gathered that Prof. Fadiora was forced to vacate his office by staffers, who stormed his office during a protest a few days ago.


http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/strike-paralyses-activities-lautech/

Oyo, Osun spat cripples services at LAUTECH

DECEMBER 11, 2013 BY SEGUN OLATUNJI
    

Drugs and Syringe

| credits: longlife.gnbo.com.ng
The National Association of Resident Doctors has decried the unending disagreement between the Oyo and Osun state governments over the ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

NARD said it was particularly saddened by the negative effects the crisis has so far had on the teaching hospital’s services.

The Supreme Court in its judgment on the matter had ruled that LAUTECH is jointly owned by the two states and should be managed as such.

While the university is located in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, its teaching hospital is sited in Osogbo, Osun State.

Meanwhile, nurses and other staff of LAUTECH in Osogbo have gone on strike over the non-payment of their salaries.

The resident doctors specifically accused the Oyo State Government of defaulting in its payment of the counterpart fund meant for paying workers’ salaries in Osogbo.

The NARD has therefore advised the two governments to take a decisive action on the joint ownership of the institution.

An ex National President of NARD, Dr. Ismail Lawal, at the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State expressed fears that the two state governments were tired of the partnership.

He therefore advised them to share the institution’s assets and part ways in the interest of the ordinary citizens now suffering from the effects of the lingering crisis.

The President of the ARD at the LAUTECH teaching hospital in Osogbo, Dr. Olajide, accused the Oyo State Government of lack of commitment since it constructed a new hospital in Ogbomoso.

He said since the second half of this year, Oyo had not paid its counterpart fund, and that it was responsible for the current industrial action embarked upon by the health workers.

He urged both states to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Copyright PUNCH.


http://www.punchng.com/health/oyo-osun-spat-cripples-services-at-lautech/