The aggrieved nurses have made the announcement on Monday they would not resume work until their outstanding salaries, entitlements and bonuses were fully paid by the State government shortly after a meeting called by the Chairman of the Ondo State Health Management Board (OSHMB), Niran Okunrinboye, which was almost disturbed by some of the protestors.
According to reports, One protesting nurse said that they would continue to strike and block the entrance to the facility until the State government pays their salaries and benefits. It was also reported that some of the health workers had supposedly ignored the”negotiating meeting” arranged by Mr . Okunrinboye.
It was also repported that, the visiting government team condemned the actions of the Account Manager of the hospital for defrauding the health workers but asked the nurses to resume work in the interest of sick patients.
“The government team was led by the Chairman of Ondo State Health Management Board, Niran Okunrinboye, and a Secretary from the Board, Ikuomola Ayotunde. Both of them expressed bitterness over the fraud,” the source said.
“The Chairman specifically described the actions of the Account Manager, who has been arrested, as ‘too wicked’ during this period of economic downturn.”
According to another protestor, she said, “They begged us to come back and start work at the hospital, but some of our leaders told them the stolen salaries must be refunded before anyone could be allowed to work freely inside the hospital.”
Another reported was also added that, the State government should find another way of paying the nurses’ salaries rather than attempting to recover the stolen funds from the Account Manager, Aminu Kamilu, who was arrested after running away with the nurses’ salaries.
The Account Manager, together with officers of Heritage Bank Plc, conspired to divert about N10m of health workers’ salaries into a personal account. Mr. Kamilu is currently in police custody in Akure.
A police source stated that the arrested Account Manager was already cooperating with the police and giving clues about other financial crimes that have been committed at the hospital.
The police officer also added that,“The accountant is cooperating with officers and is also giving us clues to other forms of corruption that have been done in the past at the facility”.
