OSOGBO, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has thrown its full weight behind the striking resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and warned that if the Federal Government fails to address the welfare concerns raised by its members, the association would have no choice but to declare a nationwide industrial action.
The National President of NARD, Dr. Tope Ojo, made the declaration during a visit to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital on Thursday, where he addressed the striking doctors and expressed solidarity with their demands. The hospital has been shut down since August 25, 2026, as the Association of Resident Doctors at LAUTECH embarked on an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare issues with the hospital management and the state government.
The aggrieved doctors are demanding payment of outstanding salaries, the implementation of the Corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, the release of arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards, and the payment of skipped years’ salary arrears. The union has accused the hospital management of refusing to implement the Federal Government’s approved welfare packages and of delaying promotion exercises that have left many doctors stagnated.
Ojo expressed disappointment that the government had not taken decisive steps to resolve the issues despite several months of dialogue and agitation. “The government has not been responsive to the plight of these doctors. It is unacceptable that in 2026, doctors are still owed salaries and denied benefits that are due to them. We will not sit back and watch our members suffer,” he stated.
The NARD President warned that the strike could escalate into a nationwide withdrawal of services if the Federal Government fails to intervene meaningfully. “We are giving the government a short window to resolve these issues. If nothing is done, we will have no choice but to call out our members across the country,” Ojo declared. A nationwide strike by resident doctors would have catastrophic consequences for the country’s already overstretched healthcare system, affecting patient care in federal and state tertiary hospitals across the country.
The Federal Government has been urged to intervene immediately to prevent a national health crisis. The Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Labour have not yet issued an official response to the threat, but sources within the Ministry indicated that discussions were ongoing to address the grievances of the resident doctors.
In response to the nationwide strike threat, the Oyo State Government has urged the resident doctors to call off the strike and embrace dialogue. The government expressed concern over the impact of the industrial action on the healthcare delivery system in the state and assured the doctors that their demands were being given priority attention. The government also noted that it had made provisions for the payment of outstanding salaries and would ensure that the arrears were cleared.
The LAUTECH Teaching Hospital management also stressed that it was not opposed to the welfare of its workers and that every effort was being made to secure the funds needed to meet the demands of the resident doctors. “We understand the grievances of the doctors. The hospital management is doing everything within its power to ensure that their concerns are addressed,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.
For now, the indefinite strike at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital continues, and the prospect of a nationwide NARD strike looms. Residents of Ogbomoso and surrounding communities have expressed concern over the situation, with many forced to seek alternative healthcare facilities. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the Federal Government to see whether it can avert a crisis that could bring the country’s healthcare system to its knees. The outcome of the negotiations in the coming days will determine whether Nigeria faces another debilitating industrial action in the health sector.
