NMA Oyo: Urges Makinde to Pay LAUTECH Resident Doctors' Arrears

• The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to address outstanding arrears for resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso.
• A letter dated September 5, 2026, from NMA President Dr. Afekhide Omoti, expressed deep concern over persistent welfare challenges and unimplemented agreements.
• Key outstanding issues include 2025 minimum wage arrears, the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, and professional allowance implementation.
• The NMA warned that poor remuneration and excessive workload directly affect patient safety and health outcomes for Oyo State citizens.
• The association called for Governor Makinde's personal intervention and a 30-day monitoring mechanism to resolve all outstanding matters.

The association issued a stark warning, asserting that issues such as burnout, excessive workload, and inadequate remuneration are not merely welfare concerns but directly compromise patient safety and overall health outcomes for the citizens of Oyo State.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has formally urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to promptly address a series of outstanding financial and welfare issues impacting resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso. In a letter dated September 5, 2026, signed by NMA President Dr. Afekhide Omoti, the association conveyed profound concern regarding the persistent challenges faced by members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) within the hospital. This appeal follows months of advocacy by the resident doctors themselves, highlighting a breakdown in the implementation of previously agreed-upon terms.

The NMA's communication detailed several critical agreements with the Oyo State Government that remain unfulfilled. These include the payment of 2025 minimum wage arrears, the disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the proper implementation of a corrected professional allowances table. Further grievances encompass the full enforcement of the call/work hour regulatory policy and the payment of arrears related to doctors' upgrades and promotions. The association noted that the patience displayed by both ARD LAUTECH and the Oyo NMA over the preceding three months, despite these legitimate demands, deserved commendation.

Emphasizing the critical role of resident doctors, the NMA underscored that these medical professionals serve as the primary point of care in tertiary hospitals, often enduring long hours under immense pressure. The association issued a stark warning, asserting that issues such as burnout, excessive workload, and inadequate remuneration are not merely welfare concerns but directly compromise patient safety and overall health outcomes for the citizens of Oyo State. The NMA believes that resolving these outstanding agreements would immediately de-escalate tensions, restore motivation among healthcare providers, and ultimately strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

To rectify the situation, the NMA specifically called upon Governor Makinde to personally intervene and direct the immediate implementation of all outstanding agreements. Beyond this, the association advocated for the establishment of a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure that all unresolved matters are fully addressed within a 30-day timeframe. Reaffirming its solidarity with the resident doctors, the NMA expressed its continued willingness to collaborate with the Oyo State Government in finding enduring solutions, with the dual objective of safeguarding both healthcare workers and the citizens they serve. This development signals potential public sector labor disputes and contractual breaches concerning employee entitlements in Nigeria.

This development signals potential public sector labor disputes and contractual breaches concerning employee entitlements in Nigeria. Lawyers advising government bodies or healthcare institutions should monitor the resolution of these outstanding agreements for precedents in collective bargaining and the legal implications of non-payment of wages, especially given the NMA's link between doctor welfare and patient safety.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers