OOUTH resident doctors suspend warning strike

n n

The Association of Resident Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, has suspended its ongoing 10-day warning strike following assurances from the the state government on the payment of its members’ professional allowance on or before July 31st, 2025.

n

The association said that the government gave this commitment at a meeting held with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Head of Service, Mr Olanrewaju Saka and which also had in attendance the state leadership of Nigeria Medical Association.

n

The President of the association, Dr John Omotoso disclosed this in a statement issued at the end of the association’s emergency meeting held on Wednesday at the ARD’s lounge and made available to journalists on Thursday.

n

Omotoso said that the association after due appraisal of issues at hand decided to suspend the warning strike and urged its members to resume for work by 8am on Thursday.

n

He stated, “Following a thorough appraisal of the association’s demands and the progress made thus far, Congress resolved to suspend the ongoing industrial action, with the expectation that payment of the Professional Allowance will be effected and reflected in members’ accounts on or before 31st July, 2026

n

“This follows meetings and dialogue with the Ogun state government (The Secretary to the state Government SSG, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi) and the Head of Service Mr. Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka in the presence of NMA Ogun leadership.

n

“We hereby directed that our members should resume work by 8:00 am on Thursday, 25th June, 2026.”

n

Omotoso said that the association will convene an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) on 1st August, 2026, to appraise the situation and determine the next line of action

n

The association warned against any form of victimisation, intimidation, or harassment arising from the industrial action urging the members not to hesitate to promptly report such action to the leadership of the association for appropriate intervention

n

The association appreciated the prompt intervention of the state government under the leadership of governor Dapo Abiodun to issues that may disrupt provision of health services to the people of the state and alteration of residency training in the state owned teaching hospital

n

The doctors had on Tuesday announced a 10-day warning strike over the non-payment of revised professional and specialist allowances, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare conditions.

n

They noted that despite the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued by the doctors, no Memorandum of Understanding had been signed and no firm commitment had been received from the state government regarding implementation and payment of revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears

n

The doctors also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, despite its domestication by the government coupled with critical manpower shortages resulting in excessive workload, burnout and prolonged working hours due to inadequate staffing across departments.

n

Other concerns of the doctors are recurrent security breaches, theft, and burglary within the hospital environment, posing risks to staff and patients, the poor state of call rooms and inadequate accommodation facilities for doctors, persistent poor quality and inadequate provision of call meals for resident doctors among others.

n n