The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have embarked on an indefinite strike.

ARD cited the failure of the hospital management and the state government to address their long-standing demands as reasons for the industrial action.

On July 28, the Association had sent a follow-up letter to an earlier one notifying the state government and the hospital’s chief medical director of the impending action.

The letter, signed by the association’s President, Dr. Stephen Adedokun, and General Secretary, Dr. Adedapo Mustapha, told the CMD that the members of ARD would commence an indefinite strike the following day, July 29, due to the failure of the management and the state government to meet their demands.

Their demands included: implementation of minimum wage for LAUTECH Teaching Hospital staff, despite implementation for other healthcare workers in the state, leading to significant pay parity and resultant resignation and inability to attract more hands, hence, more burden on the remaining personnel; non-implementation of Medical Residency Training Act/Fund; and non-payment of accoutrement allowance; among others.

The letter titled ‘Notice of indefinite industrial action effective 12:00am, 29th July, 2025,’ read: “Despite an ample window of engagement granted over the past three months and three weeks, it is with deep concern that we hereby declare a total and indefinite industrial action commencing from 12:00am, Tuesday 29th July 2025.

“This decision comes after extensive internal consultations and exhausting all peaceful means of resolution. The lack of meaningful response and commitment from the management leaves us with no viable alternative but to activate this action in defence of the welfare and professional dignity of our members.

“We urge the hospital management to treat this notice with the seriousness it deserves and to respond promptly to avert prolonged disruption of services. We remain committed to dialogue and resolution, but will not resume duty until tangible and acceptable steps have been taken to address our demands.”

Last month, the doctors warned of the imminent collapse of the hospital, citing massive staff exodus, poor remuneration, and lack of government support as major threats to its continued operation.

In an open letter dated July 4, 2025, and addressed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the doctors described the situation at the hospital as alarming, revealing that the number of resident doctors has plummeted from nearly 270 to fewer than 65.

On April 8, the doctors suspended a month-long strike to give the hospital management and the state government time to meet their demands.

Three months after suspending their strike, the doctors sent a letter to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, issuing a three-week ultimatum for the management to meet their outstanding demands.

The letter, dated July 8, and titled “Re: Notice of industrial action,” said Congress agreed to grant a grace period of three weeks, during which formal notifications will be sent to relevant stakeholders, including the Oyo State Government and the hospital management, to encourage prompt action on the unresolved issues.