The management of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun state, Wednesday, announced the sack of over 2,000 workers who were allegedly recruited illegally.

A memo signed by the acting director of administration, Mr. O. O. Omonije, titled “Re: Implementation of the year 2022 approved waiver”, dated January 31, 2024, disclosed that some people were recruited outside the waiver.

The memo reads, “Unfortunately, almost 2,000 additional employment/job offers were granted above the approved number. Many job seekers and their sponsors, influence peddlers, and allegedly, illegal transactions were made to secure many of the illegal positions.”

Noting that employment racketeer had occurred between early 2022 to early 2023, saying that the approval was granted to OAAUTHC to recruit 450 health workers but some other people were recruited illegally.

“Now, the quandary is how to tease out the truly legally employed versus the illegal ones. Where many of the illegal are not even clinical workers and their influence peddlers and allegedly, illegal transactions were made to secure many of the illegal positions. And there is no money in the hospital to pay for them.

“We are soon coming with some of the difficult decisions we have to make. While avoiding embarrassment for the innocent as much as possible. For those who racketeered (paid for or received payments for jobs), please quietly consider moving on while we find ways to resolve for the more innocent caught in the mess.

“Therefore, to comply with the June 2022 waiver as directed, only the categories of staff cited in the June 2022 approved waiver from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as listed below would be considered for the rigorous suitability test for employment with these cadres,” the memo read.