Oyo: Fresh strike looms as LAUTECH doctors lament neglect, issue 14-day ultimatum

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso on Thursday condemned what it described as negligence of the teaching hospital by the Oyo state government.

ADR also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government and its management to correct all anomalies bedevilling the institution.

The association in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr Abraham Akintola and General Secretary, Dr Abubakar Usman said the ultimatum commenced from June 11.

The Resident Doctors  further threatened they would have no option than to embark on strike if their demands were not met at the expiration of the ultimatum.

They informed that the decision to issue a 14-day ultimatum to both the management and state government was reached at its last ordinary general meeting held on June 9.

The statement read. “At the last Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the association held on June 9, 2020, it was decided by congress that enough is enough.

“Congress therefore decided to give the  hospital  management and state 14-day ultimatum starting from June 11 to correct all anomalies bedeviling LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso once and for all.

“The congress also resolved to down tools at the expiration of the ultimatum until such demands are met. A stitch in time can still save nine”.

The association lamented that the last straw on the teaching hospital’s camel was the negligence from the present administration, saying they are tired of being put at the back doors.

According to ARD, “The change of government in Oyo State was welcoming news to these health workers with the hope that this dispensation would sprinkle joy to the people of this institution.

“We embrace this with all eagerness. Our target was to meet His Excellency and to present our daunting challenges. We never got that opportunity.

“We engaged prominent members of this administration including the deputy governor, secretary to the state government, Head of Service while many letters were delivered to the Oyo State House of Assembly leadership but all to no avail”.

The doctors added that they have explored all the means they knew but seems their neglect was deliberate.

Before now, the association had issued several statements to press home their demands both during the immediate past and present administration.

“We will not stop to put the public into perspective in all our struggles and do hope this cycle ends for good soon.

 

“We want the state governor’s attention in the teaching hospital to stop the death knell spiral the hospital is spinning to. Our agitations have not changed”, the statement concluded.

Their demands included an improved salary scale of doctors to corrected CONMESS which other health workers in the country have been enjoying since 2014.

Also listed are payment of new minimum wage to them as being enjoyed by other state workers since January 2020 and urgent  payment of their two years half salary arrears for January 2016 to December 2017.

And others are installation, repair and maintainance of their sophisticated medical equipment for upmost service delivery, and employment of new staff as well as medical staff to lessen their burden.