Medical services at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, may face disruptions following the commencement of a 10-day warning strike declared by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) over unresolved welfare, training and workplace issues.
The decision was reached during the association’s second-quarter Ordinary General Meeting held on Monday at the Adebola Adegunwa Hall of the teaching hospital.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the ARD President, Dr. A.J. Omotoso, said members expressed dissatisfaction over the failure to implement and pay the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears owed to doctors.
According to the association, members were particularly disappointed that despite the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the authorities, no Memorandum of Understanding had been signed and no concrete commitment had been made regarding payment of the allowances.
The doctors also raised concerns over the delay in the disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), which they noted had already received approval from the Ogun State Government.
Beyond welfare issues, the association highlighted severe manpower shortages across several departments of the hospital, saying the situation has led to excessive workloads, prolonged working hours and increased cases of burnout among resident doctors.
The ARD further expressed concern over security challenges within the hospital environment, citing incidents of theft and burglary that it said have endangered both healthcare workers and patients.
Members also complained about the poor condition of doctors’ call rooms, inadequate accommodation facilities and the persistent provision of insufficient and low-quality meals for doctors on call.
To address the grievances, the association demanded the immediate release and payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and called for the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance to be reflected in the July 2026 salary payments.
The doctors also urged the Ogun State Government and hospital management to strengthen security measures by improving lighting and upgrading perimeter fencing around the hospital premises.
In addition, they called for the renovation of call rooms, improvement of accommodation facilities and enhanced welfare provisions, including better meals for doctors on duty.
The association warned that any member who fails to comply with the strike directive during the 10-day warning period would be sanctioned with a fine of N50,000.
The warning strike is expected to increase pressure on the Ogun State government and hospital authorities to address the concerns raised by the resident doctors and avert a prolonged industrial action.
