Staff of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, have condemned anomalies going on in the hospital, with a call on the federal government to urgently intervene.
They are lamenting alleged massive deductions on their salaries and non-payment of allowances by the management of the hospital.
They also decried the issue of non-promotion of staff, especially those due for retirement soon.
They claimed that there had been no detailed communication from the management to explain reasons for the deductions.
Those who spoke to DAILY POST said the deductions started since November, 2016, alleging that it was authorized by the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Dr. Christopher Bode
DAILY POST was at the Idi-Araba branch of LUTH and confirmed the complaints by the staff.
It was further revealed that members and staff at the Yaba branch of LUTH were also suffering similar situation.
Three staff, who spoke separately to our correspondent, corroborated each other on the deductions, saying workers’ unions were contemplating next line of action.
One of them, a senior official, said, “We don’t understand what is happening because nobody is saying anything to us. This great health institution is becoming a show of itself.
“First, rumour was that we were being punished by the Federal Government for embarking on an indefinite strike last year which lasted for two months.
“They said the CMD was enforcing the no-work no-pay rule of the government.
“We accepted it in good faith and for that reason we could not celebrate Christmas because there was no money.
“But I can tell you that since this year began, instead of paying us our salary, we have been receiving less than quarter of what we earn.
“We don’t understand what is happening at all because the CMD has been running this place like a private firm.
“We know how many times the President has ordered the release of funds for salaries to be paid but we don’t know what happens to our own money.
“For instance, some people that earn N200,000 receive less than N50,000 in a month and no one is explaining the reason why it is so.
“If they say we are lying, let them publish what they paid staff in the last 3, 4 months for the whole world to see.
“You can see that people don’t want to talk to you because they are scared of the action the CMD may take against them.
“Apart from this salary issue, people are not being promoted. Many are due for promotion for the past two years but nothing is being done. What is happening for goodness sake?
“These are the reasons why people get depressed and commit suicide. The Federal Government, the Minister of Health and even the Presidency should take note of what is happening in LUTH before we rebel.”
Reacting, Kelechi Otuneme, LUTH Public Relations Officer, said the allegations were unfounded.
“That is totally not true; it is unfounded. There is no iota of truth at all in what they are saying. Nobody is being victimised in any form, in any way”, he told DAILY POST on Thursday.
“Just yesterday, we had a workers’ forum and the CMD met with all categories of staff. Level 1 to 3, level 4 to 5 and so on. He also met with consultants and resident doctors.
“Every question any staff needed to ask was raised and the CMD addressed such. He also spoke with them on other issues and nobody felt victimised.
“If anybody has any complaint, they can come to me, the Director of Administration or other appropriate quarters for explanations. Our doors are always open”, he added.
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