Resident doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have issued a strike notice, warning that they will commence an indefinite industrial action from June 19, 2026, if hospital management fails to address their demands.
The warning was contained in a communiqué released after an emergency congress of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), OAUTH chapter.
The communiqué, signed by the association’s President, Dr Martins Jesunbo, and Secretary, Dr Toyyeb Oladipo, accused the hospital management of implementing policies that negatively affect staff welfare and career progression.
According to the doctors, the hospital has failed to address longstanding welfare issues despite several engagements with management.
“Congress noted with concern that despite the severe manpower shortage across virtually all departments of the hospital, management has continued to subject resident doctors to policies and actions that are punitive, discriminatory and detrimental to staff welfare,” the communiqué stated.
The association alleged that the management had deliberately delayed the promotion of about 26 resident doctors who had fulfilled all requirements for advancement, describing the action as a violation of provisions of the Medical Residency Training Act, 2017.
The doctors also expressed dissatisfaction over the continued withholding of residential quarters previously vacated for renovation, as well as what they described as management’s refusal to acknowledge official correspondence submitted by the association.
Among their demands are an upward review of the call-duty feeding allowance, suspension of payments for staff identity cards, and the removal of directives linking the possession of identity cards to leave applications, promotions and other official processes.
“The immediate suspension of the imposed payment for staff identity cards and the inclusion of the cost of production and issuance of such cards in the hospital’s budgetary provisions remain critical issues for members,” the doctors said.
The association further warned that the unresolved issues have reduced OAUTH’s appeal as a training institution and contributed to worsening manpower shortages across departments.
It called on management to immediately process all pending promotions and leave applications and address welfare concerns before the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum.
“Should management fail to address these legitimate demands before the expiration of the ongoing 21-day ultimatum on June 19, 2026, the association shall have no option but to embark on a total and comprehensive industrial action in accordance with extant labour laws and the resolutions of Congress,” the communiqué added.
