The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors on Friday expressed solidarity with resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, who are currently on strike over outstanding welfare and remuneration issues.
The NARD leadership said Friday marked the seventh day of the industrial action embarked upon by members of the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Ogbomoso.
NARD warned that failure to resolve the issues could trigger further regional and national industrial action, saying the escalation was unnecessary and could be averted if the outstanding demands of the doctors were implemented.
The development follows a protest by the resident doctors on Wednesday over manpower shortages, unpaid minimum wage arrears, unfulfilled allowance commitments and poor working conditions.
In a solidarity message signed by the NARD President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, and made available to our correspondent Friday, the national body said the issues leading to the strike had lingered since last year.
NARD said the doctors had, about three months ago, issued the Oyo State Government a two-week notice to implement their demands, after which they embarked on a five-day warning strike.
According to the association, the warning strike was suspended following appeals from the hospital management and its board, while the doctors subsequently issued another eight-week ultimatum to the government to resolve the issues.
“Yet again, the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors is forced to resort to the painful choice of an industrial action to press home legitimate demands of its members. This time, members under the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
“Today is day seven of the industrial action embarked upon by our colleagues in LAUTECH Ogbomoso. The issues under dispute did not start today, it has been lingering since last year. Three months ago, ARD LAUTECH Ogbomoso gave the Oyo state Government two weeks notice within which tangible implementation of legitimate demands were not met.
“The association embarked on a five-day warning strike and suspended after appeals from the Hospital management and its Board. Another eight weeks ultimatum was given to settle these demands which elapsed eight days ago and yet, nothing to show for it,” the message read partly.
