By Oluwatobi Omotosho
Resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, have suspended their 10-day warning strike following assurances from the state government on the payment of their professional allowance.
The Association of Resident Doctors, OOUTH, said the decision followed a meeting with the Ogun State Government, where officials committed to ensuring the payment of the allowance on or before July 31, 2026.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Head of Service, Mr Olanrewaju Saka, and the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association in Ogun State.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting on Wednesday, the President of the association, Dr John Omotoso, said members resolved to suspend the industrial action after reviewing the progress made during discussions with the government.
The association directed all resident doctors to return to work by 8am on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Omotoso said the decision was reached with the expectation that the revised Professional Allowance would be paid and reflected in members’ accounts before the agreed deadline.
He, however, warned against any form of intimidation, harassment or victimisation of doctors over their participation in the strike, urging members to report any such incident to the association’s leadership.
The doctors also announced that they would hold another Emergency General Meeting on August 1, 2026, to assess the government’s compliance and decide the next course of action.
The association commended the intervention of the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun for addressing issues capable of affecting healthcare delivery and residency training at the state-owned teaching hospital.
The warning strike was declared on Tuesday over the non-payment of revised professional and specialist allowances, delayed residency training funds and concerns over doctors’ welfare.
The doctors had earlier raised concerns over the absence of a signed agreement with the government despite the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the association.
Other issues highlighted by the doctors include delays in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, manpower shortages leading to increased workload and burnout, security challenges within the hospital, poor call room facilities, inadequate accommodation and concerns over the quality of call meals provided for resident doctors.
With the suspension of the strike, attention now shifts to whether the government will meet the July deadline for payment of the outstanding allowances.
