Nigeria's Health Ministry Intervenes to Avert Strike at FUTATH Hospital

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has stepped in to mediate an industrial dispute at the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital (FUTATH) in Akure, Ondo State. Organized labor, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), had issued a seven-day ultimatum for a strike. They accused the hospital management of violating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the transition of the former State Specialist Hospital to FUTATH and infringing on workers' rights.

The unions' ultimatum followed resolutions from a July 16 meeting, where they warned that the alleged actions threatened industrial peace. In response, the Ministry, through Deputy Director Festus Igbinosun, invited the TUC Chairman to a meeting scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026. This meeting aims to resolve issues surrounding service disruptions and other operational matters at the hospital.

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The intervention comes after the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Ondo State issued a seven-day strike ultimatum to the hospital management over alleged breach of the transition agreement and violations of workers’ rights.

The intervention comes after the Federal Government finalized the transition of the former UNIMED Teaching Hospital to FUTATH. The process included biometric capture of eligible staff based on an MoU signed on October 23, 2025. This MoU stipulated that only eligible officers from the old hospital would be absorbed into the Federal Civil Service. An inter-ministerial verification exercise from December 8 to December 12, 2025, further scrutinized staff lists based on age, qualifications, service records, and staffing ratios.

Ultimately, 265 staff members from the former hospital were deemed ineligible for absorption. They have been recommended for redeployment to the Ondo State Civil Service. The Ministry stated that the biometric capture for payroll enrollment under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System would conclude the process.

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The Ministry said the transition culminated in the biometric capture of all eligible staff selected into the approved Nominal Roll, in line with the MoU signed between the Ondo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Oct. 23, 2025.