Resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have entered the 32nd day of their industrial action over outstanding 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 address their concerns expired.
The association acknowledged recent steps towards resolving some of the issues, including efforts to establish a legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and part-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, it said several outstanding demands remained unresolved.
The doctors particularly called for the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, stating that Oyo State was the only state in the South-West yet to implement the table.
They also warned that poor welfare conditions could affect the retention of skilled medical personnel at the teaching hospital.
According to the association, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital provides specialised services in orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and serves patients from Oyo State and beyond.
It said the continued loss of skilled personnel could affect both specialised healthcare delivery and residency training.
The doctors urged the Oyo State Government to settle the outstanding payments and introduce competitive welfare packages to help retain and attract specialist medical personnel.
The association expressed optimism that continued engagement with the state government and other stakeholders could resolve the dispute and bring the industrial action to an end.
The strike followed an earlier five-day warning strike, which was suspended after appeals from the hospital management and its board. The doctors later issued an eight-week ultimatum before resuming the action.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has expressed solidarity with the LAUTECH doctors, listing the payment of residency training funds, implementation of the corrected Professional Allowances Table and Minimum Wage arrears among the outstanding issues.
