OOUTH paralysed as doctors strike over unpaid allowances

Doctors at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, Ogun State, have initiated a 10-day warning strike, citing unresolved issues including unpaid allowances and critical manpower shortages. The Association of Resident Doctors announced the industrial action following their second-quarter Ordinary General Meeting.

The primary grievances include the Ogun State Government's failure to implement and pay the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, along with outstanding arrears. Despite a 14-day ultimatum, no agreement has been reached, and no firm commitment has been provided by the authorities. The doctors also highlighted the delay in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, which has been adopted by the state government.

Compounding these issues are acute manpower shortages, leading to excessive workloads, burnout, and extended working hours. The doctors also raised concerns about recurrent security breaches within the hospital, poor conditions of call rooms, inadequate accommodation, and the consistently poor quality of meals provided to resident doctors.

During their meeting, the congress unanimously decided to proceed with the strike, demanding the immediate payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and the inclusion of the revised allowances in the July salary. They also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the hospital's security infrastructure and the renovation of call rooms and accommodation facilities. A fine of N50,000 has been imposed on any member who violates the strike directive.

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Congress expressed serious concerns regarding the non-implementation and non-payment of the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears. Congress noted that despite the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed and no firm commitment to payment has been received from the relevant authorities.