2025 – OYO: INDEFINITE STRIKES OF LAUTECH RESIDENT DOCTORS AND WORKERS IN STATE-OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
INDEFINITE STRIKES OF LAUTECH RESIDENT DOCTORS AND WORKERS IN STATE-OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ARE DIRECT MANIFESTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO PRIORITIZE THE WORKERS’ WELL-BEING, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE
CDWR Calls on NLC and TUC to prevail on the Makinde-led Government to Meet the Demands of Striking workers
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Oyo State Chapter, strongly supports the ongoing indefinite strike declared by resident doctors of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and workers across the six Oyo State tertiary institutions. It is evident that these workers were forced to embark on these actions due to the Oyo State Government’s failure to address their legitimate grievances, which revolve around poor working conditions and inadequate pay.
The memo signed by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) President, Stephen Adedokun, and the General Secretary, Adedapo Mustapha, and reported in the media, specifically indicated that the resident doctors embarked on the strike due to the non-implementation of the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage of N70, 000, neglect in repairing dilapidated call rooms, and severe manpower shortages across all departments. Other issues include the non-implementation of accoutrement allowance, delays in the payment of upgrade arrears owed to members, delayed payment of examination and update course refunds, and the non-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
Dr. Kola Lawal, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), a joint platform of about 15 different workers’ unions across state-owned tertiary institutions, also revealed through a statement that workers in these institutions were forced to embark on the ongoing indefinite strike due to the government’s continued refusal to implement the 25/35% salary increase approved since January 2024, the new minimum wage for workers in the Polytechnic and College of Education sectors, and the upward review of the government subvention released to these institutions. The six affected state-owned institutions are the Polytechnic, Ibadan; the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki; Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora; and Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate.
Given these related and similar issues concerning poor pay and working conditions, which have led to the ongoing indefinite strike by resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and workers in Oyo State tertiary institutions, it is evident that the Makinde-led government cannot be described as worker-friendly. As far as we are concerned, the ongoing indefinite strikes in both the health and education sectors have further exposed that all of the Makinde-led government’s media publicity surrounding the minimum wage and workers’ welfare are mere grandstanding and propaganda. No genuinely worker-friendly government would be insensitive to issues affecting the welfare and working conditions of its workforce, as demonstrated in the cases of the resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and workers across Oyo State tertiary institutions.
We call on the Makinde-led government to constructively engage with the striking doctors with a view to immediately addressing their concerns rather than resorting to needless rhetoric and public posturing while patients, poor students, and the general public suffer the consequences of the indefinite strike. The government must also meet the legitimate demands of the tertiary institutions’ workers. In light of this, we, the CDWR, therefore call on the Oyo State leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to urgently intervene in the ongoing struggle of LAUTECH resident doctors and workers across the state-owned tertiary institutions. This intervention should aim to strengthen the strike and pressure the Makinde-led administration to meet the demands of the striking workers without further delay. It is important to reiterate that the ongoing indefinite strikes are a direct consequence of the government’s failure to prioritize the well-being, education, and healthcare needs of the people.
We also urge other labour and civil society organizations to stand in solidarity with the striking doctors and workers and exert pressure on the government to abandon its anti-worker stance. Both education and healthcare are fundamental rights, and the Makinde administration must take full responsibility for ensuring that resident doctors and workers in tertiary institutions are treated fairly, adequately compensated, and provided with a conducive working environment.
The CDWR stands firmly with the striking doctors and workers and urges them to remain resolute and resilient, as we strongly believe that all of their demands are achievable. The time for empty promises is over—Governor Makinde must act now!
Our Demands
* Immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances of the striking workers.
* Increased budgetary allocation to tertiary institutions and healthcare facilities under the democratic control and administration of the elected representatives of the workers.
* Respect for agreements reached with labour unions.
* A commitment to genuine dialogue between the government and striking workers
Bamigboye Abiodun (Abbey Trotsky)
(CDWR Coordinator, Oyo State Chapter)
CDWR email: [email protected]