A group called the Coalition of Healthcare Professionals in Tertiary Education Institutions in Nigeria has sent a petition to the Federal Government. They are protesting what they call the “illegal and unfair” dismissal of a doctor named Ibikunle Olaniran, who used to work at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in Ogun State.
The group said Dr. Olaniran was fired on June 24 after facing three disciplinary panels in just two months. They believe he was targeted because he spoke up for better working conditions for health workers and because he left a workers’ union called SSANU.
The petition was sent to President Bola Tinubu and was signed by the coalition’s leaders, National Chairman Musa Shehu and Assistant Secretary Ahmad Nuhu.
A copy of Dr. Olaniran’s termination letter, dated July 24, 2025, was shown to a reporter. It was signed by the University Registrar, T.A. Adeniyi, with the document number FUBAAB/REG.184/Vol.V/230.
The coalition said the university accused Dr. Olaniran of spending too much time treating a patient, asking for tests before treatment, and taking an hour-long lunch break.
The group said these reasons were “unfair and harsh.”
They believe the real reason he was fired was because he left the SSANU union and asked for a refund of union dues taken from his salary. They said this led to a campaign of “witch-hunting” by the university.
The group also claimed the university made sure he was fired before the June salary was paid, to cause him more emotional and financial stress.
According to the coalition, this case is part of a larger problem where healthcare workers in universities and colleges are being treated badly. They say these workers are already dealing with unpaid allowances, delayed promotions, and missing hazard pay.
The coalition warned that if the Federal Government does not step in and bring Dr. Olaniran back to work, other schools might start firing medical staff unfairly as well.
They asked the President to immediately investigate why Dr. Olaniran was fired and to order his return to work. They also want health workers in universities and colleges to be protected from unfair treatment for joining unions or speaking up about working conditions.
The coalition also called for all owed payments to health workers in universities, polytechnics, and colleges to be paid. They want the government to stop unfair treatment and make sure health workers are treated fairly and promoted properly.
However, the university responded to these claims. Olasunkanmi Olajide, the Acting Head of Public Relations at FUNAAB, said the university followed the correct process in handling Dr. Olaniran’s case.
Olajide said Dr. Olaniran was not dismissed unfairly. He received several warnings for unprofessional behavior and appeared before panels that found there was enough evidence to take action.
He added that the university’s Governing Council approved the decision after careful review. According to him, Dr. Olaniran could not continue working at the university’s medical centre because of repeated misconduct.
Olajide concluded that the university acted fairly and made the decision in the best interest of the school and its community.
