The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State branch, on Sunday gave the Oyo State Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the lingering welfare and remuneration crisis that medical doctors are being confronted with.

The Association submitted that it might not be able to guarantee continued industrial harmony in the health sector beyond 12th October, 2026 if the government fails to heed the warning.

The ultimatum was contained in a joint statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Olufemi Aworinde and the General Secretary, Dr. J. O. Moharson-Bello, with the theme “Doctors’ Welfare Is Patients’ Welfare: NMA Oyo and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan.

The statement called for urgent Government Action to avert a Deepening Health-Sector Crisis” in the state.

It said the Association views with grave concern the worsening welfare and manpower challenges confronting doctors in the service of the state government.

According to the statement, ‘The difficulties facing members of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State, AMDO, must not be treated as isolated labour disputes, but as “warning signs of a health system under increasing strain, with direct consequences for patient safety, quality of care and the State’s capacity to retain skilled medical professionals.”

The NMA explained that at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, resident doctors were forced to embark on industrial action after the expiration of an earlier eight-week ultimatum without resolution of critical welfare concerns.

It noted that the strike, which has now entered its 38th day, has serious implications for patient care, emergency services, residency training and the overall functioning of the state-owned tertiary health institution.

The association listed the immediate priorities of the ARD to include completion of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, payment, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table, PAT, and resolution of other outstanding welfare issues that precipitated the industrial action, adding that these are matters requiring urgent, concrete and verifiable action.

In a similar vein, the NMA said AMDO, comprising medical and dental officers in secondary healthcare and other state establishments, after its Annual General Meeting of 17th September, 2026, formally notified the state government of unresolved welfare and conditions-of-service issues affecting its members.

It said the notice provides a 21-day window for satisfactory resolution and demonstrable implementation, failing which AMDO has given notice of strike commencing Monday, 12th October, 2026.

Among its immediate demands, the NMA said, are completion of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund payment, implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table and payment of the outstanding Accoutrement Allowance.

Arising from its Emergency State Executive Council meeting of 26th September, 2026, the NMA said it resolved to issue the state government a two-week ultimatum to take concrete and demonstrable steps to resolve the remuneration disparity arising from the non-implementation of the PAT and to address the welfare concerns underlying the industrial action at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.

That ultimatum, it stressed, expires on 12th October, 2026, same date as that of AMDO.

The state branch of the medical body, while acknowledging the efforts of the Oyo state government and relevant officials who have engaged the medical community on some of these concerns, and recognising the partial payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, said such steps, though appreciated, must be followed by timely and demonstrable implementation of the outstanding commitments.

It warned that delay in addressing approved remuneration, allowances, career progression, recruitment and retention has placed doctors under considerable pressure and continues to fuel the loss of skilled medical manpower.

“When experienced doctors leave, vacancies remain unfilled, residency training is disrupted and emergency services are stretched, the consequences extend far beyond the medical profession. Patients and families ultimately bear the burden,” the statement said.

The association maintained that as the Pacesetter state, Oyo must aspire to a health system in which the conditions of service are sufficiently competitive to attract, motivate and retain the professionals upon whom safe and effective healthcare depends.

Reaffirming its solidarity with its affiliates, the NMA said it stands firmly with ARD LAUTECH and AMDO in the legitimate pursuit of their demands, and called on Governor Seyi Makinde and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to move with urgency from engagement to implementation.

“What is required at this stage is not another cycle of promises, but measurable action capable of restoring confidence among doctors and bringing stability to the health system,” the association said.

The NMA, however, said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, with its overriding concern being the health and safety of the people of Oyo State.

“Yet there can be no sustainable patient care without a supported, adequately remunerated and sufficiently staffed medical workforce. Should the outstanding issues remain unresolved within the respective stipulated periods, NMA Oyo cannot guarantee continued industrial harmony in the State health sector,” it warned. (Nigerian Tribune)

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