The management of the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure (FUTATH) has vowed to prosecute any employee found culpable in an alleged employment racketeering scheme, insisting that the FUTATH job scam will be thoroughly investigated in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
In a statement issued by the hospital’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Tope Fayehun, the management alleged that individuals posing as hospital officials deceived job seekers into paying between ₦200,000 and ₦600,000 with promises of securing automatic employment at the newly established federal teaching hospital.
According to Fayehun, the victims were subsequently issued fake appointment letters purportedly from the former University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital, Akure, despite the documents having no legal backing. He disclosed that some affected applicants, whose identities were not revealed, have begun demanding refunds after discovering they would not be automatically absorbed into the Federal Government establishment as earlier promised.
Fayehun explained that the transition from the former state-owned institution to FUTATH is being implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government. He stated that the agreement does not provide for the automatic employment of all workers from the former institution. The hospital spokesperson stressed that management cannot circumvent Federal Government recruitment procedures or compromise due process in response to external pressure or demands.
He further alleged that the ongoing agitation by organised labour may not be driven solely by workers’ welfare concerns, suggesting that some individuals behind the alleged FUTATH job scam could be attempting to divert public attention from the allegations. Fayehun urged labour unions to carefully verify the facts before supporting campaigns against the hospital, maintaining that unions should prioritise the protection of legitimate workers rather than become vehicles for advancing personal interests or shielding alleged wrongdoing.
The hospital assured that anyone found to have participated in the alleged employment fraud would face prosecution in accordance with the law. Fayehun said FUTATH would cooperate fully with security agencies and anti-corruption bodies by providing all relevant information required for a comprehensive investigation. He reiterated that the institution remains committed to transparency, accountability and merit-based recruitment, adding that all employment into the federal teaching hospital must comply with established government procedures.
FUTATH called on members of staff, organised labour, stakeholders and the general public to support efforts to establish the facts surrounding the FUTATH job scam and allow the appropriate authorities to conclude their investigations. The management maintained that safeguarding due process and public trust remains central to the hospital’s mission of building a world-class tertiary healthcare institution.
