• Association demands minimum wage arrears, residency fund, allowances
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged Oyo State Governor, ’Seyi Makinde, to urgently honour agreements reached with doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, warning that continued delay could trigger an avoidable disruption of healthcare services in the state.
NMA National President, Dr Afekhide Ernest Omoti, made the call in a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, expressing concern over what he described as the Oyo State Government’s failure to implement mutually agreed commitments concerning the welfare of doctors.
Omoti appealed to Makinde to personally intervene and ensure the immediate implementation of outstanding agreements and demands of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LAUTECH Ogbomoso.
He said: “Such decisive intervention is necessary to avert further escalation and prevent a potentially avoidable disruption of medical services in Oyo State and beyond.”
The NMA listed the doctors’ demands to include immediate payment of state minimum wage arrears dating from January 2025, payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors and implementation of the Corrected Professional Allowances Table.
Other demands, according to the association, are implementation of the Call/Work-Hour Regulatory Policy and prompt payment of upgrade arrears owed affected doctors.
Omoti said the issues were not merely administrative matters, but welfare and workplace concerns with direct implications for the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.
“These are not mere administrative requests. They are legitimate welfare and workplace concerns that directly affect the well-being of doctors and, ultimately, the quality and safety of healthcare delivery,” he said.
The NMA president warned that excessive workload, inadequate remuneration and an overstretched workforce could contribute to burnout and fatigue, with possible consequences for clinical performance, patient safety and health outcomes.
He said prompt implementation of the outstanding commitments would help resolve the current industrial dispute while improving the morale, motivation and productivity of resident doctors.
Omoti noted that the NMA and the ARD had pursued advocacy and engagements with the authorities since early this year in an effort to resolve the issues.
He commended the doctors for exercising restraint for about three months, describing their conduct as evidence of professionalism, patience and respect for due process.
However, he said continued advocacy without corresponding action from government could not continue indefinitely.
“The legitimacy of these demands cannot be overemphasised. More importantly, agreements freely entered into must be honoured, while legitimate commitments made to healthcare professionals must be implemented in a timely and transparent manner,” Omoti said.
The NMA president reaffirmed the association’s solidarity with the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, and called on all relevant stakeholders to work towards a swift, fair and sustainable resolution of the dispute.
He also commended the Oyo State NMA branch for its restraint and professionalism, urging the leadership to sustain its advocacy and engagement until the outstanding demands were fully resolved.
Omoti said the NMA remained committed to constructive dialogue, responsible advocacy and partnership with the Oyo State Government.
“We are prepared to work with the Government and all relevant stakeholders to achieve sustainable and lasting solutions that protect the welfare of doctors while ensuring uninterrupted and quality healthcare delivery to the people of Oyo State,” he said.
He stressed that the health of Oyo State residents must remain paramount, while the welfare of doctors responsible for providing healthcare services should not be treated as an afterthought.
