Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has resolved the prolonged industrial crisis at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, following a closed-door meeting with the hospital's management on Monday, June 29, 2026. The intervention has paved the way for the suspension of the ongoing strike by medical consultants and other health workers, who had shut down clinical services over the dismissal of their association chairman and deteriorating working conditions.
The Chief Medical Director of DELSUTH, Prof. Harrison Abedi, confirmed the development in an interview with newsmen shortly after the meeting at Government House, Asaba. He expressed appreciation for the governor's timely intervention, which he said had restored hope to management and staff of the teaching hospital. "The governor personally invited the hospital's management for discussions and successfully resolved the issues that led to the workers' unrest at the state's premier teaching hospital," Prof. Abedi stated.
The resolution comes after weeks of industrial action that had left patients stranded and medical training suspended. On June 18, 2026, medical consultants under the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as the "victimisation" of their chairman and the government's failure to comply with earlier agreements. The consultants also raised concerns over worsening working conditions, including prolonged power outages and water shortages that reportedly lasted up to 48 hours. Among their key demands were the reversal of the chairman's dismissal, the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director, the constitution of a functional governing board for DELSUTH, and the implementation of revised professional allowances approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission since July 2024.
During the meeting, Governor Oborevwori addressed several longstanding challenges confronting the institution, particularly the prolonged power outage that has disrupted hospital operations and water supply over the past two weeks. The Chief Medical Director disclosed that the state government had already awarded a contract to restore stable electricity to the hospital, adding that the Ministry of Energy had commenced implementation. A new high-tension transformer that would provide the hospital with a dedicated 33KVA power line had been sourced and was being transported from Lagos by the contractor for installation.
"The governor has assured us that the power problem will soon become a thing of the past. We are grateful that the Ministry of Energy has swung into action, and we expect the transformer to arrive very soon," Prof. Abedi said.
Beyond the power project, the Chief Medical Director said Governor Oborevwori had directed him to work closely with the Commissioner for Health to ensure the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernisation of the teaching hospital. The planned revamp would address the institution's ageing infrastructure and improve healthcare service delivery, even as he expressed optimism that the governor's intervention would encourage the striking unions to suspend their industrial action and return to work. "We believe the unions will reconsider their position, and we are hopeful that the strike will be called off soon. Once that happens, normal services will resume immediately, and DELSUTH will return to full operation," he said.
The Chief Medical Director commended Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to strengthening the state's healthcare system, describing the intervention as a demonstration of responsive and people-centred leadership. The resolution of the DELSUTH crisis marks a significant step towards restoring healthcare services in the region, while the governor's directive to revamp the facility signals a long-term commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Delta State.
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