Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State Branch, has called on the state government to urgently address the worsening welfare and manpower challenges confronting doctors, warning that continued delays could deepen the crisis in the state’s health sector.
The association issued the warning on Monday, October 5, 2026, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Olufemi Aworinde, and General Secretary, Dr Jemiludeen Moharson-Bello.
The NMA said the concerns affecting resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and medical and dental officers working in secondary healthcare and other state establishments should no longer be treated as isolated labour disputes.
According to the association, the unresolved issues have broader implications for patient safety, quality of healthcare, emergency services, specialist training and the ability of the state to attract and retain skilled medical professionals.
The latest intervention comes against the backdrop of an ongoing industrial action by resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. The NMA said the strike had entered its 38th day as of Monday, following the expiration of an earlier eight-week ultimatum without the resolution of key welfare concerns.
The resident doctors had commenced the industrial action after earlier attempts to secure action from the government and hospital authorities failed to resolve their outstanding demands. The doctors had previously suspended industrial action to allow the authorities time to address the issues.
Among the immediate demands highlighted by the NMA are the completion of payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table and resolution of other outstanding welfare concerns.
The association said the Professional Allowance Table remains a particularly important issue because remuneration and working conditions directly affect doctors’ ability to remain in the state health system.
The crisis has also raised concerns about manpower at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, with resident doctors previously warning that the continued departure of experienced medical personnel was placing additional pressure on those remaining in service.
The hospital provides specialised medical services and also serves as a training centre for doctors undergoing residency programmes. The NMA therefore warned that prolonged manpower shortages could affect both the quality of care available to patients and the training of future specialists.
The association said delays in addressing remuneration, allowances, career progression, recruitment and retention were placing doctors under considerable pressure and contributing to the loss of skilled manpower.
It noted that when experienced doctors leave, vacancies may remain unfilled, residency training can be disrupted and emergency services can become increasingly stretched. The ultimate impact, it said, is felt by patients and their families.
The NMA also raised concerns over the welfare of members of the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State, who work in secondary healthcare facilities and other state establishments.
According to the association, AMDO formally notified the state government of unresolved welfare and conditions-of-service issues following its Annual General Meeting on September 17, 2026.
The doctors gave the government a 21-day window to resolve the issues and demonstrate implementation of agreed measures. The notice expires on Monday, October 12, the same date on which the NMA’s own ultimatum to the government expires.
Among the demands affecting AMDO members are completion of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund payment, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table and payment of outstanding Accoutrement Allowance.
The NMA said its two-week ultimatum was issued following an Emergency State Executive Council meeting held on September 26. It called on the Oyo State Government to take concrete and demonstrable steps to resolve the remuneration disparity arising from the non-implementation of the Professional Allowance Table and address the concerns underlying the LAUTECH industrial action.
The association acknowledged that the Oyo State Government and relevant officials had engaged with members of the medical community and also recognised the partial payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, it said partial measures were not enough and called for the outstanding commitments to be implemented within clearly defined timelines.
The NMA urged Governor Seyi Makinde and relevant ministries, departments and agencies to move beyond discussions and implement the agreements reached with the medical professionals.
The association said what was needed was measurable action capable of restoring confidence among doctors and bringing stability to the state’s health system.
It also warned that continued failure to address the concerns could worsen the loss of skilled medical personnel at a time when many health systems across Nigeria are already struggling with the migration of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The manpower concerns at LAUTECH are part of a wider challenge facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector, where doctors have repeatedly raised concerns about remuneration, workload, working conditions, career progression and opportunities for professional development.
Earlier in September, the national leadership of the NMA had also appealed to Governor Makinde to address outstanding issues affecting resident doctors at LAUTECH. The national body identified several unresolved matters, including 2025 minimum wage arrears, the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, the corrected Professional Allowance Table, the call and work-hour regulatory policy, and upgrade and promotion arrears.
The national association warned at the time that prolonged welfare problems could affect patient safety and health outcomes.
The LAUTECH resident doctors’ dispute has also attracted the attention of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, which expressed solidarity with the affected doctors and called for the resolution of the outstanding issues.
The NMA Oyo branch said it remained committed to constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, stressing that its objective was not to disrupt healthcare delivery but to secure conditions that would enable doctors to provide effective services.
However, the association made clear that it could not guarantee continued industrial harmony if the outstanding issues remained unresolved within the stipulated period.
It appealed to the state government to treat the matter with urgency, stressing that the welfare of doctors could not be separated from the quality and safety of healthcare delivered to residents.
The association also described Oyo as the “Pacesetter State” and said the state should aspire to maintain a healthcare system capable of attracting, motivating and retaining skilled professionals.
For the doctors, the October 12 deadline now represents a critical point in the dispute. If the government fails to demonstrate meaningful progress before then, AMDO has already notified the authorities of its intention to commence industrial action, while the NMA has warned that it may not be able to guarantee continued industrial harmony across the state health sector.
The association nevertheless left room for negotiations, saying it remained willing to engage the government and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions.
As the deadline approaches, the focus is now on whether the Oyo State Government will implement the outstanding agreements and welfare measures demanded by the doctors, particularly those affecting LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
The NMA’s position is that resolving the dispute is not simply about doctors’ remuneration but about protecting patients, strengthening medical training and preventing further loss of skilled manpower from the state’s healthcare system.
With the October 12 deadline approaching, the association has urged the government to act before the dispute escalates further and begins to create wider disruption across Oyo State’s health sector.
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