LAUTECH Resident Doctors’ Strike Over Welfare Demand Enters 32 Days

Resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have entered the 32nd day of their industrial action over unresolved welfare-related issues. In a statement jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo A., and Secretary, Dr John Stephen, on Tuesday, the doctors said the strike followed the expiration of an eight-week ultimatum issued to the authorities.

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said its 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.

“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 association said.

The doctors acknowledged steps taken towards addressing some of their concerns, including efforts to establish the legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and the 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 said.

However, the doctors said the Professional Allowance Table remained unresolved, stressing that welfare conditions could affect the retention and movement of medical personnel.

“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,” the statement said.

The association said LAUTECH Teaching Hospital provides specialised services in orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, while also serving as a referral centre for patients within and outside the state.

It added that maintaining adequate skilled manpower was essential to the hospital’s provision of specialised healthcare and residency training.

“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 association said.

The 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-month minimum wage arrears.

They said addressing the demands would help retain resident doctors and create an environment capable of attracting specialist manpower.