A critical shortage of medical personnel and unresolved welfare grievances have pushed resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, to the brink of a fresh industrial action.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) announced on Thursday that it would resume its suspended strike on 28 August 2026, should the Oyo State Government and hospital authorities fail to address their core demands.
The association highlighted that an acute deficit of doctors has left the remaining workforce overstretched, with prolonged call duties becoming standard practice. Failure to attract and retain medical personnel due to poor conditions has exacerbated the shortage, creating a situation that doctors warn directly impacts clinical care.
The union stressed that the well-being of healthcare staff remains intrinsically linked to patient safety, service quality, and the overall sustainability of the health system.
The doctors’ demands centre on several long-standing issues, including: full implementation and disbursement of the medical residency training fund; adoption of the new professional allowance table; settlement of outstanding minimum wage arrears; emergency recruitment of resident doctors and essential medical staff.
The union noted that these packages have already been operational in rival healthcare institutions for years, insisting that their requests are neither excessive nor unrealistic.
The impending action follows an eight-week grace period granted on 27 June, when the ARD suspended its previous strike in good faith to protect public healthcare services and allow room for dialogue.
In a joint statement, ARD President Dr Adedapo Mustapha and General Secretary Dr John Stephen reaffirmed their preference for constructive engagement over service disruption, whilst appealing directly to the Oyo State Governor to intervene before the deadline.
“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,” the association stated.
However, the union cautioned that its patience is exhausted: “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 concluded, reiterating that “a well-motivated, adequately staffed and properly supported workforce” remains vital to sustaining quality healthcare delivery.