OOUTH Doctors Call Off Warning Strike After Government Assurance

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, has suspended its ongoing 10-day warning strike following assurances from the state government on the payment of outstanding professional allowances.

The decision was reached after a meeting between representatives of the Ogun State Government, the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state, and officials of the association.

The ARD President, Dr. John Omotoso, announced the suspension in a statement issued after an emergency congress held on Wednesday.

According to him, the state government, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, and the Head of Service, Olanrewaju Saka, assured the doctors that payment of the Professional Allowance would be made on or before July 31, 2026.

“Following a thorough appraisal of the association’s demands and the progress made so far, Congress resolved to suspend the ongoing industrial action, with the expectation that payment of the Professional Allowance will be effected and reflected in members’ accounts on or before July 31, 2026,” Omotoso stated.

He said members were directed to resume work by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

The association also disclosed that it would convene an Emergency General Meeting on August 1, 2026, to review developments and determine its next course of action.

ARD further warned against any form of victimisation, intimidation or harassment of members arising from the industrial action, urging affected doctors to promptly report such incidents to the association’s leadership.

The doctors expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, for intervening in issues that could have disrupted healthcare services and residency training programmes at the teaching hospital.

The warning strike began earlier this week over the non-payment of revised professional and specialist allowances, delayed payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, and concerns over staff welfare.

The association had also raised issues relating to manpower shortages, excessive workload, poor accommodation facilities, inadequate call rooms, security concerns within the hospital environment, and the quality of meals provided to resident doctors.

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The doctors had maintained that despite an earlier 14-day ultimatum, no memorandum of understanding had been signed and no concrete commitment had been received from the government regarding the implementation of their demands.

With the suspension of the strike, medical services are expected to resume fully at the institution while discussions between the parties continue.