By Bola Bamigbola
ILE-IFE – The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has issued a formal notice to withdraw services effective June 19, 2026, should the hospital management fail to resolve several outstanding welfare and policy grievances.
Basis for Industrial Action
The decision follows an emergency general meeting of the association, where leadership expressed deep dissatisfaction with what they described as "punitive, discriminatory, and detrimental" management policies. The communique, signed by ARD President Dr. Martins Jesunbo and Secretary Dr. Toyyeb Oladipo, highlighted the following primary demands:
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Residential Quarters: The association condemned the continued withholding of residential quarters following the eviction of occupants for renovations.
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Welfare and Allowances: The union is demanding an upward review of the call food quota for resident doctors.
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Identity Card Disputes: Doctors are calling for the immediate suspension of fees imposed for staff identity cards, requesting that production costs be integrated into the hospital’s budget as is standard in other public institutions.
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Administrative Directives: There is a strong demand to reverse the management’s directive that links the possession of new staff identity cards to the processing of upgrades, leave applications, and other official staff-related matters.
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Pending Applications: The association has demanded the immediate and unconditional processing of all currently pending staff upgrades and leave applications.
Concerns Over Institutional Standards
The ARD noted that the management's continued neglect of these welfare issues has significantly diminished OAUTH's appeal as a premier training institution. Furthermore, the leadership warned that these policies have exacerbated a critical shortage of manpower across various hospital departments.
In the communique, the association stated that if these demands remain unaddressed by the expiration of their 21-day ultimatum on June 19, 2026, members will proceed with a "total and comprehensive industrial action" in compliance with labor laws and congress resolutions.
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