Resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, have suspended their 50-day strike following Governor Seyi Makinde’s intervention and commitments to address outstanding welfare demands. The doctors are expected to resume clinical duties on Saturday, October 17.

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has suspended its 50-day industrial action for an initial eight weeks after a meeting with the state government over unresolved staff welfare issues.

The decision followed an emergency general meeting held on Friday, October 16, after Governor Makinde chaired a stakeholders’ meeting at the hospital’s Gangway Hall on Thursday, October 15.

In a letter addressed to the governor’s Chief of Staff, the association expressed appreciation for the governor’s intervention and the government’s commitments to resolving the issues that triggered the strike.

The letter was jointly signed by the ARD President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo; Public Relations Officer, Dr Abdulrahman Fofie; and Assistant General Secretary, Dr Oladayo Bada.

The association said the meeting, attended by government officials, hospital board members, leaders of the Oyo State House of Assembly and other stakeholders, provided an opportunity to present its outstanding demands.

These include implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act, payment of 2025 minimum wage arrears and implementation of the Revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT).

According to the association, Makinde committed to ensuring that the 2025 minimum wage arrears would be paid on or before mid-November 2026.

The governor also directed the constitution of a multi-stakeholder committee to develop modalities for implementing the revised Professional Allowance Table within six weeks.

On the Medical Residency Training Act, the association said the governor committed to ensuring that the bill would be passed on or before October 28, 2026, with gubernatorial assent expected within the first week of November.

Following its review of the government’s commitments, the association resolved to suspend the strike for eight weeks, expressing optimism that the agreed measures would be implemented within the stipulated timelines.

It directed all resident doctors to resume full clinical duties on Saturday, October 17.

The association said it remained committed to constructive engagement, industrial harmony and providing quality healthcare services to residents of Oyo State.

The suspension offers an opportunity for clinical services at the teaching hospital to return to normal, although a lasting resolution will depend on the implementation of the government’s commitments.

The industrial action followed longstanding concerns about doctors’ welfare, remuneration and working conditions. In August, the association had cited outstanding allowances, medical residency training funding, manpower shortages and inadequate on-call facilities among its concerns.

The eight-week suspension period gives the government and hospital management time to work towards resolving the outstanding issues before the association reviews the situation.