NARD backs LAUTECH hospital doctors, threatens nationwide strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed support for resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, who have been on strike for seven days due to issues surrounding welfare and remuneration. The NARD leadership warned that failure to resolve these issues could lead to further regional and national industrial action, emphasizing the urgency of implementing the doctors' demands.

The strike began three months ago when the doctors gave the Oyo State Government a two-week notice, followed by a five-day warning strike. NARD's president, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, called for the immediate resolution of the doctors' demands, including the payment of the Medical Residency Training Funds, the payment of State Minimum wage arrears, the implementation of the corrected Professional Allowances Table, and the payment of upgrade arrears.

He also highlighted the poor working conditions faced by the doctors, including severe understaffing, unfulfilled allowance commitments, and dilapidated call rooms. The NARD president appealed directly to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to intervene in the matter, warning that failure to do so could lead to further regional and national actions, which would be unnecessary and avoidable if the outstanding issues were addressed.