Management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Teaching Hospital has vowed to prosecute individuals involved in an alleged employment racketeering scheme uncovered during the institution's ongoing staff verification and transition to the Federal Government payroll system.

The hospital disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed some individuals had been fraudulently selling appointment letters and promising unsuspecting members of the public access to jobs within the institution, despite having no authority to recruit on its behalf. Management described the activities as criminal and warned that those responsible would be brought to justice.

The development comes amid the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System biometric capture exercise, designed to integrate eligible staff into the Federal Government payroll following the hospital's transition to a federal teaching hospital. Authorities stressed that the verification exercise is being conducted strictly according to government regulations and under the supervision of authorised officials.

Management dismissed allegations that the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, authorised selective biometric capturing to favour certain individuals, describing the accusations as false and intended to damage the reputation of both the Chief Medical Director and the institution during a critical transition period. It explained that the only recognised biometric verification exercise is the one officially coordinated by the IPPIS Directorate, cautioning workers against relying on information from unauthorised sources.

According to the management, only employees whose appointments followed due process and satisfy government requirements will be successfully integrated into the federal payroll, with verification described as an essential step toward obtaining the institution's approved establishment from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The hospital urged prospective job seekers to ignore anyone demanding money or promising employment, warning that such payments expose applicants to fraud and possible financial loss.

The Chief Medical Director reaffirmed the institution's commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness, describing accurate personnel documentation as critical to effective workforce management, and appealed for patience and cooperation from workers while the exercise continues. Management added that successful completion of the IPPIS exercise will strengthen the hospital's administrative structure and support its mandate of delivering quality healthcare, medical education, and research, reiterating that anyone found participating in fraudulent recruitment activities would face appropriate legal action.