Ondo Doctors Threaten To Shut Down Hospitals

Effective Monday, medical doctors in Ondo State may shut down hospitals in the state.

Under the aegis of the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), the doctors said they would embark on a three-day warning strike to press home their demands from the state government.

In a statement signed by Dr. Richard Obe, chairman of the NAGGMDP and Dr. Adekunle Owolabi, secretary, the doctors lamented that repeated letters and a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa were ignored.

The doctors, citing gross neglect of the health sector and the welfare of medical professionals by the state government, said the ultimatum, which expired on July 1, 2025, received no official response.

They stated that one of the core issues raised in their letter to the governor was a crippling shortage of medical personnel, with some general hospitals operating with just one doctor per entire local government area.

The doctors said this is unsustainable, puts lives at risk, and overburdens the few available professionals.
The statement also condemned a sudden increase in taxation from April 2025 without prior consultation and described as “unacceptable” the non-payment of salaries and allowances to eight newly recruited doctors employed since October 2024.

According to the association, these doctors have only received partial payment in February 2025 without any allowances.

In addition, unpaid hazard allowances for October to December 2023 and January 2024, as well as outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024, are part of their demands.

The statement further said: “NAGGMDP is demanding the immediate recruitment of more doctors across Ondo State, full payment of salary arrears and statutory allowances, a reversal of the new tax regime, payment of outstanding salaries and allowances for newly employed officers, payment of owed hazard allowances, and settlement of promotion arrears for eligible members.”

While assuring the public of their commitment to healthcare delivery, the doctors warned that failure to address these demands during the warning strike would result in an indefinite industrial action, with widespread consequences for the state’s fragile health system.