The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently resolve the persistent welfare crisis affecting doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, to avoid disruption of medical services.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, the National President of the NMA, Dr. (Prof.) Afekhide Ernest Omoti, urged the governor to personally intervene and ensure immediate implementation of the pending agreements reached with the Resident Doctors Association (ARD), LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
The NMA said the pending demands include the payment of state minimum wage arrears since January 2025, the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for eligible resident doctors, the implementation of the Corrected Professional Allowance Table, the Call/Work Hour Regulatory Policy and the payment of promotion arrears to the affected doctors.
Professor Omoti said the lawsuits were legitimate wellbeing and workplace concerns that directly affect the quality and safety of healthcare delivery, and warned that excessive workload, poor remuneration and an overstretched workforce could undermine clinical performance, patient safety and health outcomes.
He said: “A healthcare system cannot thrive when those entrusted with saving lives are pushed beyond sustainable limits,” adding that implementing the outstanding commitments would help end the dispute and at the same time increase the morale, motivation and productivity of resident doctors.
The NMA Chairman said extensive advocacy work had been done since early this year, noting that the leaders and members of ARD LAUTECH Ogbomoso had shown remarkable professionalism and patience in acting with restraint for almost three months.
However, he said formal promotion without corresponding government action could not continue indefinitely.
Omoti reaffirmed the solidarity of the NMA with the resident doctors and commended the Oyo State branch of the NMA for its professionalism.
He stressed that freely concluded agreements must be respected and legitimate commitments must be implemented promptly.
Omoti further assured that the NMA remained committed to constructive dialogue and partnership with the Oyo State Government, emphasizing that while the health of the people must remain paramount, “the well-being of the doctors charged with protecting that health must not be treated as an afterthought.”
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