The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on the Oyo State Government to intervene urgently in the ongoing industrial dispute at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, warning that the continued strike by resident doctors could significantly disrupt healthcare delivery across the state.
The association made the appeal in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, urging the government to act swiftly to resolve the dispute before the ongoing two-week warning strike escalates into an indefinite industrial action.
The statement, signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, stated that the association had received the communiqué issued following the emergency general meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital on 25 June.
According to the statement, the resident doctors resolved to continue their two-week warning strike and would embark on an indefinite strike if their outstanding demands remained unmet.
NARD acknowledged the efforts made by the hospital’s Board and management to address some of the concerns raised by the doctors. However, it maintained that the measures implemented so far were insufficient to resolve the issues that triggered the industrial action.
Describing the dispute as both unfortunate and avoidable, the association said the unresolved issues centred on doctors’ welfare, salaries, residency training, and working conditions. It warned that the lingering challenges were adversely affecting staff morale, the quality of residency training, and healthcare delivery across Oyo State.
According to NARD, the resident doctors are demanding the immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund, the passage of the Medical Residency Training Act, implementation of the new Professional Allowance table for eligible doctors, and the rehabilitation of doctors’ call rooms.
The association also called for the payment of 100 per cent of the 2025 accoutrement allowance arrears, minimum wage arrears, and upgrade arrears owed to affected members.
In addition, NARD urged the immediate advertisement for the recruitment of resident doctors and medical officers through a national newspaper to address the growing shortage of medical personnel at the teaching hospital.
The association expressed concern that doctors at the hospital had continued to provide essential healthcare services despite severe manpower shortages, increased workloads, and difficult working conditions, while many of their statutory benefits remained unpaid.
NARD nevertheless commended the leadership of the ARD at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital for suspending the strike for two days to provide medical services following the release of abducted schoolchildren and their teachers.
“This selfless decision reflects the enduring commitment of resident doctors to the preservation of life and the discharge of their professional responsibilities, even in the face of unresolved welfare challenges,” the association said.
NARD urged the Oyo State Government to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved without further delay and called on the hospital’s Chief Medical Director to strengthen good-faith engagement with the resident doctors.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of industrial disputes but stressed that meaningful engagement must be supported by sincerity and the faithful implementation of agreed resolutions.
It warned that continued neglect of the welfare concerns of resident doctors would heighten industrial tensions and further weaken healthcare delivery in Oyo State.
NARD added that if the dispute remains unresolved after the warning strike ends, it will support the ARD at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and consider all appropriate actions within its constitutional mandate to protect the welfare and professional rights of its members.
