The Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its proposed strike, following the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde, who pledged to address the doctors’ key welfare and institutional demands.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan, the NMA’s General Secretary, Dr. Tobi Bright, confirmed that the strike, earlier scheduled to commence on October 2, had been suspended. He commended the governor’s swift response and members’ patience throughout the negotiations.
The association had raised concerns over outstanding promotion arrears, delayed allowances, staff shortages, infrastructural gaps, and the governance structure of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
Governor Makinde, during a visit to the hospital on September 30, assured the medical community of his administration’s commitment to resolving these issues. He promised to clear promotion arrears, implement the minimum wage increment in three instalments, and constitute a governing board for the hospital within a week.
The governor also pledged to make the Chief Medical Director’s appointment substantive, ensure payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund and accoutrement allowances, and approved an additional ₦35 million as subvention for the hospital.
According to Dr. Bright, the NMA considered the governor’s commitments sufficient grounds to suspend the strike, noting that the decision reflects a renewed partnership between the medical association and the state government. He expressed optimism that the measures would improve healthcare delivery across the state.
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