The Association of Resident Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, on Tuesday began a 10-day warning strike over the non-payment of revised professional and specialist allowances, acute manpower shortages, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare conditions.
The resident doctors also imposed a fine of ₦50,000 on any of their colleagues found disobeying the association’s directive during the strike.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the association’s second-quarter Ordinary General Meeting held on Monday at the Adebola Adegunwa Hall, OOUTH, Sagamu.
In the communiqué signed by its president, Dr John Omotoso, and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, the resident doctors expressed deep concern over the failure of the Ogun State Government to implement and pay the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears.
- NIGERIA DAILY: “They Threatened To Attack If People Refuse To Listen To Them”
- NAFDAC sensitises FCT residents on effects of drugs
They noted that despite the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued by the doctors, no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed, and no firm commitment had been received from the Ogun State Government regarding the implementation and payment of the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears.
The communiqué stated, “Congress expressed serious concerns regarding the non-implementation and non-payment of the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears.
“Congress noted that despite the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed, and no firm commitment to payment has been received from the relevant authorities.”
The doctors also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), despite its domestication by the Ogun State Government, coupled with critical manpower shortages resulting in excessive workload, burnout, and prolonged working hours due to inadequate staffing across departments.
Other concerns raised by the doctors include 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; and the persistent poor quality and inadequate provision of call meals for resident doctors.
The association further stated that after extensive deliberations, “Congress unanimously decided to proceed on a 10-day warning strike, demand the immediate payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and ensure that the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance are reflected in the July 2026 salary payment.”
The doctors also demanded a comprehensive overhaul of the hospital’s security architecture, including improved lighting, enhancement of perimeter fencing, and other necessary security measures.
Other demands include the immediate renovation and upgrading of call rooms and accommodation facilities for doctors, as well as an immediate improvement in the quality and quantity of call meals provided to doctors.
The association warned that “any doctor found disobeying the directive of the association during the 10-day warning strike shall pay a fine of ₦50,000.”
The association also promised to convene an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) at the expiration of the 10-day warning strike to review developments and determine further actions.
