LAUTECH Strike: Alli Campaign Group Slams Makinde Over Doctors’ Welfare

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has criticised the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over the prolonged strike by resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, describing the situation as a sign of alleged insensitivity to the welfare of medical workers and patients.

The organisation, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said the strike, which has lasted for more than 30 days, was unacceptable and raised concerns about the handling of the welfare and working conditions of medical personnel in the state.

SSACO also expressed concern over the 21-day warning strike issued by the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State (AMDO) over unresolved issues relating to welfare, remuneration and conditions of service.

According to the organisation, it was disturbing that medical workers had been forced to embark on industrial action over issues including unpaid allowances, residency training funds and salary arrears.

It noted that the resident doctors were demanding payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), six months’ Minimum Wage arrears and other welfare-related entitlements.

The organisation said the prolonged strike was already affecting healthcare delivery at the teaching hospital, with patients reportedly being forced to seek treatment at private health facilities or endure prolonged waiting periods to access medical services.

“SSACO is concerned about Governor Seyi Makinde’s failure to sit with the striking resident doctors and find a lasting solution to their demands.

“As the strike prolongs, the resident doctors feel maltreated, while the masses bear the brunt of government’s insensitivity,” the organisation said.

It added that healthcare delivery was a critical service that required urgent attention from any responsible administration, warning that the combination of the ongoing resident doctors’ strike and the warning strike by medical and dental officers could further disrupt healthcare services across the state.

“Healthcare delivery is a critical service which serious administrations treat with urgency and with the importance it deserves. With this prolonged strike, our resident doctors are feeling maltreated while the masses suffer.

“The medical and dental officers across state hospitals have also served notice of a warning strike. This combination is a signal of government failure in the health sector. It is unacceptable in our dear state,” SSACO stated.

The organisation said healthcare would occupy a priority position in Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s Oyo AHEAD agenda if elected, promising improved welfare, training and retraining opportunities for health workers and other civil servants.

“Health workers and other civil servants will not be denied their entitlements. They will enjoy training and retraining, and they will have facilities to work with,” it added.

SSACO warned that continued industrial action in the health sector could have serious consequences for patients who depend on public hospitals for specialised and affordable medical services.

The organisation consequently challenged the Makinde administration to address the grievances of the affected medical workers and take urgent steps to resolve the dispute, stressing that the welfare of healthcare professionals was directly connected to effective healthcare delivery in the state.