By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State Branch, has given the Oyo State Government until October 12 to take concrete steps to resolve lingering welfare, remuneration and manpower problems affecting doctors across the state's healthcare system.
The warning, issued in a statement released on Monday, October 5, has heightened concerns over the stability of healthcare services in Oyo State, particularly at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, where resident doctors have been on industrial action for more than a month.
The NMA said the difficulties affecting resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and medical and dental officers employed across the state's secondary healthcare system should no longer be treated as isolated labour disputes.
According to the association, the unresolved issues are increasingly affecting the state's ability to retain skilled medical professionals and could have consequences for patient safety, quality of care, emergency services and specialist medical training.
The association's position was contained in a statement jointly signed by its Oyo State Chairman, Dr Olufemi Aworinde, and General Secretary, Dr Jemiludeen Moharson-Bello.
The NMA called on Governor Seyi Makinde and relevant government ministries, departments and agencies to move from continued engagement to actual implementation of commitments already made to medical workers.
OCTOBER 12 DEADLINE
The NMA said its two-week ultimatum to the Oyo State Government expires on October 12.
The deadline coincides with a separate deadline issued by the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State, which represents medical and dental officers working in secondary healthcare and other state establishments.
The association warned that it may not be able to guarantee continued industrial harmony in the state's health sector if the outstanding issues remain unresolved after the stipulated period.
The warning does not automatically mean that another strike will begin on October 12. Rather, the NMA said continued industrial harmony could not be guaranteed if the government failed to take satisfactory and demonstrable action.
The distinction is important because the association is leaving room for negotiations and government intervention while making clear that its patience is running out.
The NMA said it remains committed to constructive dialogue, but argued that dialogue must now produce measurable results.
LAUTECH RESIDENT DOCTORS HAVE BEEN ON STRIKE
At the centre of the dispute is the prolonged industrial action by resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.
The NMA said the strike had entered its 38th day by Monday.
The doctors began industrial action after an earlier eight-week ultimatum expired without satisfactory resolution of key welfare concerns.
Among the issues raised by the resident doctors are the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table and other outstanding welfare matters.
The NMA said the prolonged dispute has implications beyond the doctors themselves because resident doctors play important roles in the provision of medical services and specialist training within teaching hospitals.
A prolonged disruption can place additional pressure on consultants, other doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who continue to provide services during the dispute.
It can also affect patients who depend on the teaching hospital for specialist and relatively affordable healthcare.
MEDICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING FUND REMAINS AN ISSUE
One of the outstanding matters highlighted by the NMA is the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
The association acknowledged that the Oyo State Government has made partial payment of the fund, but said outstanding commitments still need to be addressed.
Medical residency is an important component of specialist healthcare development.
Resident doctors work while undergoing structured postgraduate training in areas such as surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and other medical specialties.
Funding is therefore important not only to the doctors undertaking the training but also to the future supply of specialists in the state's healthcare system.
When residency-related obligations remain unresolved, the consequences can extend beyond the immediate dispute.
Doctors may become less willing to remain in a particular institution, while training programmes can face disruption and hospitals can experience difficulty attracting and retaining medical personnel.
The NMA therefore considers the resolution of the outstanding residency funding issue part of the wider effort to stabilise healthcare delivery in Oyo State.
PROFESSIONAL ALLOWANCES ALSO AT THE CENTRE OF THE DISPUTE
Another major issue is the implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table.
The NMA said remuneration disparities arising from the non-implementation of the approved table remain unresolved.
Professional allowances form part of the broader conditions of service under which doctors work.
Where approved allowances are not implemented, doctors may feel that agreed employment conditions are not being respected.
The NMA said this situation has contributed to dissatisfaction among medical professionals and is one of the issues that must be addressed to restore confidence within the state's health workforce.
The association has urged the government to move beyond discussions and ensure that approved provisions are actually implemented.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL OFFICERS ALSO ISSUE WARNING
The dispute is not limited to resident doctors at LAUTECH.
The Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State has also notified the government of unresolved welfare and conditions-of-service concerns.
The association's notification followed its Annual General Meeting held on September 17.
It gave the government a 21-day period to address its concerns satisfactorily.
The issues raised include completion of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund payment, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table and payment of outstanding Accoutrement Allowance.
The deadline given by the association also expires on October 12.
The simultaneous deadlines have increased pressure on the state government to resolve the disputes before they develop into a broader industrial confrontation involving more sections of the medical workforce.
NMA WARNS OF LOSS OF MEDICAL MANPOWER
The NMA said unresolved welfare problems are contributing to pressure on doctors and increasing the risk of losing skilled medical personnel.
The association specifically linked delays in remuneration, allowances, career progression, recruitment and retention to the growing manpower challenge.
The loss of experienced doctors can create vacancies that are difficult to fill, particularly in specialised areas.
When vacancies remain unfilled, existing doctors may have to handle larger workloads.
That can increase professional pressure and potentially affect the speed and quality of patient care.
The association therefore argued that improving doctors' working conditions is directly connected to protecting patients.
Its position is reflected in its central message that doctors' welfare and patients' welfare cannot be separated.
IMPACT ON PATIENTS
For patients, the dispute is not simply an employment matter.
Teaching hospitals provide specialist services that may not be readily available at smaller healthcare facilities.
Patients requiring specialist consultations, surgery, emergency treatment or complex diagnostic procedures may depend on institutions such as LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
When industrial action disrupts services, patients may have to wait longer, seek alternative facilities or travel to other locations.
Some may also face higher expenses if they have to obtain care from private hospitals.
The longer a dispute continues, the greater the possibility that vulnerable patients could experience delays in accessing necessary care.
This is why the NMA has repeatedly emphasised the connection between staff welfare and patient safety.
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RETENTION
Nigeria's healthcare system has faced persistent concerns over the retention of trained medical professionals.
Doctors and other healthcare workers can seek employment in other states or countries when they believe working conditions, remuneration or career opportunities are better elsewhere.
For state governments, retaining experienced doctors is important because training new specialists requires time and significant investment.
A doctor who leaves after years of training can create a vacancy that cannot immediately be filled.
The NMA's latest warning therefore reflects a concern that unresolved welfare disputes could make it harder for Oyo State to maintain an adequately staffed healthcare system.
The association wants the government to create conditions capable of attracting and retaining skilled professionals.
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT AND PARTIAL PROGRESS
The NMA acknowledged that the Oyo State Government and relevant officials have engaged medical representatives on some of the issues.
The association also recognised the partial payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, it said partial measures must be followed by timely implementation of the outstanding commitments.
This indicates that the dispute is not simply about whether government has engaged the doctors.
The disagreement now centres largely on implementation and completion of commitments.
The NMA is asking for measurable action that doctors can see and verify.
WHY THE OCTOBER 12 DEADLINE MATTERS
The October 12 deadline gives the government one week to address the concerns raised by the NMA.
If meaningful progress is made, it could help prevent further escalation and create an opportunity for the affected doctors to return to normal duties.
If the outstanding issues remain unresolved, however, the warning suggests that industrial relations within the health sector could become more difficult.
The possibility of additional industrial action could place further pressure on hospitals already dealing with manpower challenges.
For patients, such an outcome could mean further disruptions to healthcare services.
The government therefore faces pressure to reach an agreement that addresses the substantive concerns while also protecting the continuity of medical services.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
The Oyo State Government has the responsibility of managing the state's healthcare institutions and ensuring that public hospitals are adequately staffed and equipped.
At the same time, the government must operate within available financial resources and follow established procedures for approving and paying public-sector obligations.
Resolving the dispute will therefore require coordination among the governor's office, health authorities, finance officials, hospital management and representatives of the doctors.
The NMA's demand is that the process should now produce concrete results.
WHAT THE NMA WANTS
The association's immediate priorities include completing payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, implementing the approved Professional Allowance Table and resolving other welfare issues that contributed to the LAUTECH industrial action.
For medical and dental officers in other state facilities, the association also wants the outstanding Accoutrement Allowance addressed.
The broader demands include action on career progression, recruitment and retention.
These issues are interconnected because a healthcare system requires not only buildings and equipment but also a stable workforce capable of delivering services.
THE BROADER HEALTHCARE IMPLICATION
The dispute at LAUTECH illustrates the difficulty of maintaining healthcare services when employment conditions become a source of prolonged disagreement.
Hospitals depend on doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, technicians and other professionals working together.
If one group experiences a prolonged disruption, the effects can spread across the wider system.
Emergency departments may experience pressure, specialist appointments may be delayed and other workers may face increased workloads.
Patients ultimately bear much of the impact.
That is why the NMA is urging the government to resolve the dispute before it becomes more extensive.
NMA MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO DIALOGUE
Despite its strong warning, the NMA said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and industrial harmony.
The association's position is that it wants the government to take action rather than allow the dispute to continue through repeated promises.
The NMA said its overriding concern remains the health and safety of the people of Oyo State.
It argued that sustainable patient care requires a medical workforce that is adequately supported, properly remunerated and sufficiently staffed.
This position puts the responsibility on both sides to prevent the dispute from escalating.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The immediate focus is now on October 12, when the NMA's ultimatum and the AMDO deadline are both expected to expire.
Before then, the Oyo State Government has an opportunity to address the outstanding issues and potentially prevent further disruption in the state's healthcare system.
The resident doctors' strike at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital has already lasted more than a month, while the possibility of wider industrial action has added to concerns over healthcare stability.
The outcome will depend on the level of progress made between government officials and representatives of the affected medical professionals.
For patients, the preferred outcome is a settlement that restores normal healthcare services while addressing the legitimate concerns of medical workers.
For the doctors, the immediate priority is implementation of the financial and professional commitments they say remain outstanding.
For the government, the challenge is to balance those demands with its broader responsibilities and ensure that public healthcare remains functional.
CONCLUSION
The Nigerian Medical Association's October 12 deadline has placed renewed pressure on the Oyo State Government to resolve the welfare crisis affecting doctors across the state's healthcare system.
The dispute at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital has already entered its 38th day, while medical and dental officers in other state facilities have also warned of possible industrial action if their concerns are not satisfactorily addressed.
The issues include outstanding residency funding, professional allowances, welfare obligations and broader concerns surrounding remuneration, career progression and manpower.
The NMA says these matters have consequences far beyond doctors' employment conditions because an under-supported medical workforce can ultimately affect patient safety and healthcare delivery.
With the deadline now approaching, the coming days will be important for both the government and the medical profession.
A successful resolution would help restore stability at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and other affected facilities, protect patients from further disruption and improve confidence among healthcare professionals.
If the outstanding matters remain unresolved, however, Oyo State could face a deeper health-sector crisis at a time when hospitals are already under pressure to retain skilled medical personnel and maintain reliable services.
The immediate priority for all parties remains clear: find a workable resolution before October 12 and prevent the welfare dispute from developing into a wider disruption of healthcare delivery across Oyo State.