The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State branch, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Oyo State Government to resolve outstanding welfare and remuneration issues affecting medical doctors in the state.
The association warned that it may no longer be able to guarantee continued industrial harmony in the state’s health sector beyond October 12, 2026, if the government fails to take concrete steps to address the concerns.
The ultimatum was contained in a joint statement signed by the NMA State Chairman, Dr Olufemi Aworinde, and General Secretary, Dr J. O. Moharson-Bello, under the theme, “Doctors’ Welfare Is Patients’ Welfare: NMA Oyo” and made available to journalists in Ibadan.
It called for urgent government action to avert a deepening health-sector crisis.
NMA said the worsening welfare and manpower situation facing doctors in the state had become a matter of serious concern, stressing that the problems confronting the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State (AMDO) should not be viewed merely as isolated labour disputes.
According to the association, the developments are signs of increasing strain on the health system, with implications for patient safety, quality of care and the state’s ability to retain skilled medical professionals.
At LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, resident doctors embarked on industrial action after an earlier eight-week ultimatum expired without resolution of their welfare demands.
NMA said the strike had entered its 38th day, with serious consequences for patient care, emergency services, residency training and the overall operations of the state-owned tertiary health institution.
It identified the immediate priorities of the resident doctors as completion of payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table (PAT) and resolution of other outstanding welfare issues that triggered the industrial action.
The association said these demands required urgent, concrete and verifiable action from the government.
Similarly, NMA said AMDO, which represents medical and dental officers working in secondary healthcare facilities and other state establishments, formally notified the government of unresolved welfare and conditions-of-service issues after its Annual General Meeting on September 17, 2026.
The notice gave the government a 21-day window to satisfactorily resolve and demonstrate implementation of the outstanding issues, failing which AMDO would commence strike action on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Among the issues highlighted by NMA are completion of the 2026 MRTF payment, implementation of the approved PAT and payment of outstanding Accoutrement Allowance.
Following an Emergency State Executive Council meeting held on September 26, the NMA said it resolved to give the state government a separate two-week ultimatum to address the remuneration disparity arising from non-implementation of the PAT and resolve the welfare concerns behind the LAUTECH doctors’ strike.
That ultimatum also expires on October 12.
NMA acknowledged the efforts of the Oyo State Government and relevant officials who had engaged the medical community on some of the issues.
It also recognised the partial payment of the 2026 MRTF, but said the steps taken must be followed by timely and demonstrable implementation of outstanding commitments.
The association warned that continued delays in addressing remuneration, allowances, career progression, recruitment and retention were placing doctors under considerable pressure and contributing to the loss of skilled medical manpower.
“When experienced doctors leave, vacancies remain unfilled, residency training is disrupted and emergency services are stretched, the consequences extend far beyond the medical profession. Patients and families ultimately bear the burden,” it said.
NMA maintained that Oyo State, which prides itself as the Pacesetter State, should have a health system with sufficiently competitive conditions of service to attract, motivate and retain medical professionals.
The association reaffirmed its solidarity with ARD LAUTECH and AMDO in their pursuit of their demands and urged Governor Seyi Makinde, alongside relevant ministries, departments and agencies, to move from engagement to implementation.
“What is required at this stage is not another cycle of promises, but measurable action capable of restoring confidence among doctors and bringing stability to the health system,” NMA said.
While reiterating its commitment to constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, the association said its overriding concern remained the health and safety of Oyo residents.
It, however, warned that sustainable patient care could not be achieved without a supported, adequately remunerated and sufficiently staffed medical workforce.
“Should the outstanding issues remain unresolved within the respective stipulated periods, NMA Oyo cannot guarantee continued industrial harmony in the State health sector,” it warned.
