Workers at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, on Thursday protested against plans to privatise laboratory services at the facility, disrupting a meeting of the university’s Governing Board.
The protesters reportedly stormed the hospital’s administrative building, where the Governing Board meeting was being held, and chanted solidarity songs while demanding that the proposed Public-Private Partnership arrangement be stopped.
The development forced the meeting, which was being presided over by the board’s chairman, Mr Niyi Owolade, to end abruptly.
The workers are opposed to the planned outsourcing of the hospital’s laboratory services to a private operator, expressing concerns over the implications of the arrangement for staff welfare, job security and the delivery of healthcare services.
The protesters called on the university management and other relevant authorities to reconsider the proposed deal and engage the workers before taking any further steps.
The workers also threatened to embark on industrial action if the authorities proceed with the plan without addressing their concerns.
The protest adds to growing tensions surrounding the proposed restructuring of laboratory services at the teaching hospital, with the workers insisting that their grievances must be resolved through dialogue.
As of the time of filing this report, the university management had not publicly disclosed details of the proposed PPP arrangement or announced a resolution to the workers’ demands.
ALSO READ:UNIOSUN VC’s Tenure Extension Sparks Fresh Face-Off Between Adeleke, ASUU
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
