Ogbomoso Recreation Club appeals to Gov Makinde on LAUTECH Teaching Hospital

Ogbomoso Recreation Club appeals to Gov Makinde on LAUTECH Teaching Hospital

Yinka ADETUNJI

Ogbomoso Recreation Club (ORC) has appealed to the Oyo state governor, Eng. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, to look into the festering issue of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomoso, whose various workers’ unions have embarked on industrial strike running into months.

At least three unions are on strike presently including Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), National Association of Nigeria Nurses And Midwives (NANNM and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) for various demands, and this has paralyzed activities in the hospital with patients being turned back. This has been a major concern.

The Ogbomoso Recreation Club is thus appealing to the governor to wade into the crisis most of which it noted bothers on funding.

The appeal addressed to the governor, titled, “Appeal to resolve issues with workers currently on strike in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH),” and signed by Dr Akin Oladeji-Johnbrown and Prof. Atiba Adeniran Samuel, president and secretary respectively, the club passionately appealed for the governor’s intervention. “We hereby write on behalf of members of Ogbomoso Recreation Club and Ogbomoso Community (in general) to seek your intervention in resolving the industrial dispute between the Oyo State government and the entire workers of LTH, Ogbomoso.”

It further noted, “For more than two (2) months now, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has embarked on a strike, while the medical students in training have been out of calls and ward training for more than four (4) months.”

ORC observed that the problem stemmed from inadequacy of subvention which it submitted is responsible for payment of below par salaries and allowances to the workers in relation to their counterparts elsewhere.

It lamented the situation triggers poor service delivery, massive brain drain and inability to attract consultants and specialists just as it is pointed out that medical students’ training is seriously affected and being jeopardised.

“Inadequate subvention to pay the new salary scale (CONMESS circular). The doctors in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital have been paid a lower salary enjoyed by other health workers in Oyo State since January 2025.

“Non-payment of Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF) to Lautech Hospital medical personnel, which has been paid for more than five (5) years nationwide. Hence, the LTH is unable to attract new specialist doctors and other medical personnel and non-payment of accoutrement allowance.

“The consequences of the above are poor service delivery and manpower exit, which is affecting all critical departments of LTH. There is an acute shortage of staff in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Laboratory, and Paediatrics departments as of the date of this letter. The Hospital practically has no working consultant specialists.”

Registering its plea, the club stated, “We sincerely appeal to Your Excellency to urgently help resolve the issues mentioned in this letter timely manner because this is the only tertiary institution that is affordable to attend to the health challenges of people of Ogbomosoland.”