OOUTH doctors strike begins as resident doctors at the Sagamu teaching hospital commence a 10-day warning action over unpaid revised allowances and poor welfare, highlighting critical staffing shortages in Ogun State
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, under the leadership of its president Dr John Omotoso, has commenced a 10-day warning strike at the Sagamu facility in Ogun State on Tuesday 23 June 2026, citing the Ogun State Government’s failure to pay revised professional and specialist allowances along with other pressing welfare concerns.
Dr Omotoso and his colleagues, who provide essential specialist training and care at the tertiary health institution, expressed deep frustration after a previous 14-day ultimatum expired without a signed Memorandum of Understanding or firm payment commitments from the authorities.
The doctors highlighted the non-payment of revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance, including outstanding arrears, alongside delays in the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund despite its adoption by the state government.
Acute manpower shortages have led to excessive workloads, burnout, and extended working hours across departments.
In the communiqué issued following their second-quarter Ordinary General Meeting at the Adebola Adegunwa Hall, the association voiced serious concerns over recurrent security breaches, including theft and burglary within the hospital premises, which endanger both staff and patients.
They also criticised the poor condition of call rooms, inadequate accommodation facilities, and the persistently low quality and quantity of call meals provided to resident doctors.
Dr John Omotoso stated in the communiqué: “Congress unanimously decided to proceed on a 10-day warning strike, demand the immediate payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and that the revised Professional Allowance and Specialist Allowance be reflected in the July 2026 salary payment.”
The association further imposed a N50,000 fine on any member who violates the strike directive, with plans to convene an emergency general meeting at the end of the warning period to assess developments and decide on further action.
This latest industrial action comes against a backdrop of recurring labour disputes in Ogun State’s health sector, where similar concerns over remuneration, security, and infrastructure have surfaced in previous years, sometimes disrupting services at facilities like OOUTH and the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta.
While the strike is expected to affect routine and non-emergency care, potentially leaving patients seeking alternatives elsewhere, the doctors have framed their demands as essential for sustaining quality healthcare delivery and preventing further staff attrition in an already strained system.
No immediate response from the Ogun State Government was available as the action began.
The situation underscores the delicate balance between healthcare workers’ welfare and uninterrupted patient services in Nigeria’s public hospitals, where dedicated professionals often operate under challenging conditions to serve their communities.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
