The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday declared support for the ongoing strike by its members at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, over unmet demands.

In a post on its official X handle, the association said the doctors’ strike followed the lapse of a three-week ultimatum, earlier given to the hospital management and Oyo State government.

The strike action, officially declared in a statement on July 29, jointly signed by the chapter’s president, Stephen Adedokun and general secretary, Adedapo Mustapha, noted that doctors will not resume work until concerns are reasonably addressed.

Listing its outstanding concerns, the association demanded the payment of the new minimum wage with arrears from January 2025, release of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), provision of accoutrement allowances, recruitment of additional resident doctors, and renovation of dilapidated call rooms.

NARD said, “Despite partial actions taken on certain arrears and reimbursements, several key demands remain unmet. These include payment of the new minimum wage with arrears from January 2025, release of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), provision of accoutrement allowances, recruitment of additional resident doctors, and renovation of dilapidated call rooms.”

The association also decried the sharp decline in the number of resident doctors in the Ogbomosho-based teaching hospital, noting that there has been a staff reduction from nearly 270 to less than 65 available resident doctors.

NARD decried the continued silence of the Oyo State government, extreme pressure on its remaining members and the risk of an imminent collapse of the hospital services.