Crisis is looming in the Ondo State health sector as medical doctors under the auspices of the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) have declared a three-day warning strike in government health facilities of the state. 

The warning strike, which began on Monday, was in response to what the protesting doctors alleged as ‘gross neglect of the health sector and welfare of medical practitioners’ by the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

In a joint statement in Akure, the NAGGMDP’s state Chairman, Richard Obe and Secretary, Adekunle Owolabi, lamented shortage of medical personnel in the state-owned government hospitals, alleging that some of the health facilities were operating with ‘one medical doctor’ per local government area. 

The aggrieved doctors, who highlighted their grievances in the copy of the statement, also decried the alleged increase in taxation from April 2025 without prior consultation.

They also complained of an alleged non-payment of salaries and allowances to eight newly recruited doctors employed since October 2024 by the Aiyedatiwa-led state government. 

They noted that they could no longer continue to work under difficult conditions, where their salaries and arrears were not paid. 

The statement added, “Others include unpaid hazard allowances for October to December 2023 and January 2024, outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024, and salary shortfalls and unpaid allowances for other members.”

Threatening that the strike would lead to a total industrial action in the government hospitals, the medical doctors demanded immediate action from Mr Aiyedatiwa-led government to avoid total shutdown of the state’s health sector. 

According to them, parts of their demand include the immediate recruitment of more medical doctors across the 18 LGAs of the state and full payment of outstanding salary, arrears, and statutory allowances. 

“The reversal of the new tax regime, payment of outstanding salaries and allowances for newly employed officers and payment of owed hazard allowances and settlement of promotion arrears for eligible members,” they added in the statement. 

The doctors warned that failure to address the pressing issues and demands during the warning strike would result in further widespread consequences for the state’s fragile health system.’

The NAGGMDP had earlier issued a 14-working-day ultimatum to Mr Aiyedatiwa to address the challenges in the health sector but noted that it was ignored by the state government. 

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Simidele Odimayo, said the state government was already addressing the challenges raised by the medical doctors. 

He added, “We have started paying the arrears because the governor has given an instruction that the funds be paid and we are going to address their challenges. On the issue of shortage. The state government is employing medical doctors, and if they have people that they want us to employ, they should come forward with the names.’’