Resident Doctors Threaten Nationwide Strike As Labour Crisis In LAUTECH Hits 32 Days

As the strike by the LAUTECH resident doctors entered its 32nd day over unresolved welfare-related issues, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed solidarity with the doctors and warned that failure to resolve the issues could lead to regional and national industrial action.

The national body of the resident doctors, in a statement jointly signed yesterday by its president, Dr Mustapha Adedapo and secretary, Dr John Stephen, said the strike followed the expiration of an eight-week ultimatum issued to the authorities.

NARD listed the payment of Medical Residency Training Funds, the implementation of the corrected Professional Allowances Table, the payment of minimum wage arrears and other outstanding payments as part of its demands.

“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 partial 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 adequately 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.

The association reiterated its commitment to dialogue and constructive engagement with the government and other stakeholders towards resolving the industrial action.

The development followed an earlier five-day warning strike by the resident doctors, which was suspended after appeals from the hospital management and its board. The doctors subsequently issued an eight-week ultimatum over their demands.

The association had threatened in August to resume industrial action if the issues remained unresolved.