The ongoing strike by resident doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has entered its 32nd day, with the doctors demanding improved welfare and the settlement of outstanding payments.
The Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, 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. In a statement signed by its President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo A., and Secretary, Dr John Stephen, the association said the strike resumed after an eight-week ultimatum issued to the Oyo State Government expired.
The doctors acknowledged some progress, including moves towards establishing a legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and part-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund. However, they said the Professional Allowance Table and other outstanding welfare issues remained unresolved. The association also expressed concern over the loss of skilled medical personnel, saying this could affect specialised healthcare services and residency training at the hospital.
The doctors appealed to the Oyo State Government to implement competitive welfare packages, fully settle the Medical Residency Training Fund and pay the outstanding six months of Minimum Wage arrears. They said resolving the issues would help retain resident doctors and attract specialist manpower to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
The development 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 industrial action. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has expressed solidarity with the LAUTECH doctors and warned that failure to resolve the issues could result in regional and national industrial action.
Source: PUNCH
