Resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have sustained their industrial action for 32 days, citing unresolved welfare and payment issues.
The doctors, under the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, said their demands include the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund and settlement of six months of Minimum Wage arrears.
In a statement signed by the association’s President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo A., and Secretary, Dr John Stephen, the doctors said the strike resumed after an eight-week ultimatum issued to the relevant authorities expired without all the issues being resolved.
According to the association, some progress has been recorded, including moves towards establishing a legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and the part payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, the doctors said several outstanding demands, particularly the Professional Allowance Table, remained unresolved.
The association argued that welfare conditions were important to retaining skilled medical personnel, noting that Oyo State was still the only state in the South-West that had yet to implement the Professional Allowance Table.
The doctors also warned that continued loss of medical personnel could affect the hospital’s ability to provide specialised healthcare and sustain residency training.
LAUTECH Teaching Hospital provides specialist services in areas including orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, while also serving as a referral centre for patients within and outside Oyo State.
The resident doctors called on the Oyo State Government to implement the Professional Allowance Table, pay the outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund in full and settle the six months of Minimum Wage arrears.
They said resolving the issues would help improve staff retention and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to attract specialist manpower.
The doctors also expressed willingness to continue discussions with the government and other stakeholders towards ending the strike.
The latest industrial action followed an earlier five-day warning strike that was suspended after appeals from the hospital management and its board. The doctors subsequently issued an eight-week ultimatum before resuming the strike.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has also expressed solidarity with the LAUTECH doctors, warning that failure to resolve the issues could potentially trigger wider industrial action at regional or national levels.
