The ongoing strike by resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has entered its 32nd day.
The doctors, under the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, said the industrial action was driven by unresolved welfare and remuneration issues.
Their demands include the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Funds and settlement of six months’ 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 began after an eight-week ultimatum issued to the relevant authorities expired.
The association said, “The ongoing industrial action represents the resumption of an earlier suspended warning strike, following the expiration of an eight-week ultimatum issued to address the longstanding welfare crisis confronting resident doctors in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.”
The doctors acknowledged some efforts by the authorities to address their concerns, including moves towards establishing a legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and part payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
“We recognise these steps as important developments and remain hopeful that the outstanding components will be addressed expeditiously,” the association stated.
However, the doctors said the Professional Allowance Table remained unresolved, alleging that Oyo State was the only state in the South-West yet to implement it.
“Oyo State, despite its long-standing reputation as the Pace Setter State, remains the only state in the South-West yet to implement the Professional Allowance Table,” they said.
The association warned that continued welfare challenges could worsen the loss of skilled medical personnel from the teaching hospital.
It said the hospital provides specialised services in areas including orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and also serves as a referral centre for patients within and outside Oyo State.
“The continued loss of skilled manpower poses a significant threat to the sustainability of residency training and the ability of the hospital to provide the specialised healthcare services for which it was established,” the doctors said.
They therefore called on the Oyo State Government to implement the Professional Allowance Table, clear the outstanding residency training fund and pay the six months of Minimum Wage arrears.
The doctors also appealed for welfare packages capable of retaining existing medical personnel and attracting specialists to the institution.
“We therefore call on the Oyo State Government to take decisive steps to salvage this fortress of hope for thousands of citizens from further deterioration and loss of skilled manpower by implementing welfare packages that are competitive with what is obtainable in neighbouring states,” the association stated.
The doctors said resolving the issues would improve the hospital’s capacity to provide tertiary healthcare and strengthen medical residency training.
They also urged the state government to use its “Pace Setter” reputation to establish higher standards in healthcare delivery and medical education.
The association expressed optimism that dialogue with the state government and other stakeholders would lead to a resolution of the dispute.
“We remain optimistic that His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, with the goodwill and confidence that his administration enjoys, can bring about the necessary intervention to restore the strength, stability and agility of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso,” the doctors said.
The current industrial action followed an earlier five-day warning strike which was suspended after appeals from the hospital management and its governing board.
The doctors subsequently issued an eight-week ultimatum over their demands and later resumed the strike when the issues remained unresolved.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has expressed solidarity with the LAUTECH doctors and warned that failure to address the grievances could trigger wider industrial action at the regional or national level.
NARD also listed the payment of residency training funds, implementation of the corrected Professional Allowances Table and settlement of Minimum Wage arrears among the outstanding issues.
