Strike looms, as ladoke akintola university teaching hospital doctors issue 14 day ultimatum to government

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD)  of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso has issued a 14-day ultimatum to its management and the two owner States (Osun and Oyo State) government to correct all anomalies facing the institution.

Penpushing reports that the ultimatum issued, was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the President of the association, Dr. Abraham Akintola and General Secretary, Dr Abubakar Usman, which was made available to journalists Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The association declared that the ultimatum starts from June 11, explaining 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.

Penpushing further reports that, the Doctors emphasized that  they would have no option than to embark on strike if their demands were not met at the expiration of the ultimatum, adding that the congress concluded that ‘enough is enough at the last Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the association which was held on June 9, 2020’.

“The congress has also resolved to down tools at the expiration of the ultimatum until such demands are met. A stitch in time can still save nine,” it said, while the body  explained further that the last straw that broke camel back was the negligence from the present administration, adding that they are tired of being put at the back doors.

“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 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,” it said.

“We embrace this with all eagerness. Our target was to meet His Excellency and to present our daunting challenges. We never got that opportunity;, the association said, noting that it has explored all the means they knew but seems their neglect was deliberate.

The Doctors added that they will not stop to put the public into perspective in all their struggles and do hope the cycle ends for good soon, adding, “we want the state governor’s attention in the teaching hospital to stop the death knell spiral the hospital is spinning to.

Penpushing also reports that among their demands are: improved salary scale of Doctors to corrected CONMESS which other health workers in the country have been enjoying since 2014, 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.

The association said, other demands are installation, repair and maintenance of their sophisticated medical equipment for upmost service delivery, and employment of new staff as well as medical staff to lessen their burden.

Meanwhile, it is recalled that the association had issued several statements to press home their demands both during the immediate past and present administration