Efforts by the Oyo State Government and the Hospital Management Board to prevent resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomoso, from resuming industrial action may have suffered a setback.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LTH, Ogbomoso, has threatened to resume its suspended industrial action on August 28, 2026, if the state government and hospital management fail to resolve its outstanding welfare demands.
The association made this known in a statement signed by its President, Dr Adedapo Mustapha, and General Secretary, Dr John Stephen, on Thursday.
The doctors suspended their industrial action on June 27, giving the hospital management and relevant authorities eight weeks to address their concerns.
Speaking on the development, Mustapha said the planned resumption of the strike was a valid warning to the government and other stakeholders to resolve the issues before the deadline.
However, a top source in the institution told The Nation on condition of anonymity that the management had been appealing to the doctors to show understanding, but that its efforts had not yielded results.
The source said a meeting was held at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, earlier in the week to appeal to the doctors to give the government more time to conclude ongoing discussions.
According to the source, the doctors remained firm on their position that all their demands must be addressed or they would resume the strike.
The association said it suspended the action ‘in good faith’ to maintain industrial harmony, support the progress of the institution and prevent disruption of healthcare services to residents.
It, however, said several critical issues remained unresolved as the agreed eight-week period drew to a close.
The outstanding demands include full implementation and release of the Medical Residency Training Fund, implementation of the new Professional Allowance table, payment of minimum wage arrears, and urgent recruitment of resident doctors and other critical manpower.
The association said the welfare situation at the hospital had become increasingly difficult, stressing that its demands were neither excessive nor unreasonable.
‘These demands are neither outrageous nor unreasonable,’ the doctors said, noting that several of the welfare packages had been implemented in other healthcare institutions for years.
The ARD also raised concerns over the severe shortage of medical personnel at LTH Ogbomoso, saying the situation had left the available doctors overworked and overstretched.
‘The Hospital is experiencing gross manpower shortages, while the inability to attract and retain resident doctors is further worsened by the prevailing welfare conditions,’ the association said.
It added that prolonged and frequent call duties had increasingly become the norm for the few doctors available.
The doctors warned that the manpower crisis could have implications for patient care and safety.
‘This is not merely a matter of doctors’ personal comfort. The welfare of healthcare workers is intrinsically linked to patient safety, quality of care and the sustainability of healthcare services,’ the statement said.
The association appealed to the Oyo State Governor and relevant government authorities to urgently intervene and resolve the issues.
‘We particularly appeal to the governor to safeguard the future of LTH Ogbomoso and salvage the increasingly critical situation within the institution by ensuring the prompt resolution of these outstanding welfare concerns,’ it said.
The doctors maintained that they had no desire to disrupt healthcare services or inconvenience residents of the state, saying their preference remained dialogue and a mutually beneficial resolution.
‘Our preference remains constructive engagement, dialogue and a mutually beneficial resolution,’ the association said.
However, it warned that its patience had limits, noting that it had already demonstrated restraint by suspending the earlier strike and allowing sufficient time to address the issues.
‘We therefore wish to state clearly that if these outstanding demands remain unresolved, the Association shall resume its suspended industrial action effective 28 August 2026,’ the statement said.
The ARD urged the hospital management and Oyo State Government to take decisive action before the deadline to avert another disruption of medical services at LTH Ogbomoso.
The association said it remained committed to the progress of the hospital and the provision of quality healthcare, stressing that ‘a well-motivated, adequately staffed and properly supported workforce’ was essential to achieving those objectives.