Hundreds of workers at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, protested on Monday over the non-payment of the minimum wage.
The workers locked up the hospital gates and the administrative building doors.
REPORTERS AT LARGE observed that many of the staff members of different unions were in a pensive mood in groups, discussing angrily.
Workers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, on Monday, took to the streets in protest, shutting the hospital gates and administrative offices over what they described as “shocking” salary reductions for January.
The aggrieved workers, drawn from various unions, gathered in groups, visibly distressed and engaged in heated discussions over the unexpected pay cuts.
According to findings, the protest was triggered by the discovery that their January salaries were lower than their previous earnings, despite expectations of an increment following the state government’s implementation of the new minimum wage for civil servants.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, Comrade Olabaniyi David, Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU), expressed disappointment over the development.
“What they paid us is not what we expected. We were hopeful and jubilant when other workers in the state received the new minimum wage. But when our members started receiving salary alerts over the weekend, it was even lower than what we earned in December. That’s why we are gathered here to hear from the management,” he stated.
Similarly, Comrade Olaniran Jubril Adebayo, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), described the situation as distressing.
“Many of us broke down in tears when we received our salary alerts. Instead of the expected minimum wage, our pay was reduced. In addition, arrears owed to us from 2018 to 2023 were not paid, except for four months’ worth of promotional benefits. We also discovered that the tax rate had been increased without a corresponding salary adjustment. Our members are accusing us of betraying them, thinking we compromised on their behalf,” he lamented.
He further explained that reports suggested the hospital management attempted to address the issue but was constrained by reduced government subvention.
Comrade Olajide Bukola of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) also decried the lack of communication from hospital authorities.
“We have not been informed about what is happening. There was no meeting with us before this happened, and that is why we are protesting,” she stated.
When contacted, the hospital spokesperson, Mr Omotayo Ogunleye, said the management met with the different unions today on the way forward.
