Doctors Issue 21-day Strike Ultimatum To Makinde Over Welfare

The Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State (AMDO) has issued a 21-day warning strike over alleged prolonged delays in resolving outstanding welfare issues related to remuneration, conditions of service and other sundry issues affecting medical and dental officers in the state.

The warning strike was sequel to a resolution of the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 17th September, 2026, and was scheduled to commence on Monday, 12th October, and end on Sunday, 18th October, 2026, if the outstanding demands were not satisfactorily resolved and demonstrably implemented.

In a letter dated 21st September and addressed to the Oyo State governor, Oluwaseyi Makinde, the association said it had consistently pursued the issues through dialogue, correspondence and engagements with relevant government officials.

AMDO acknowledged recent efforts by the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Health and other government officials towards resolving some of its concerns. It also expressed appreciation for the partial payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) on 14th September.

However, the association said several critical matters remained unresolved despite previous engagements and approvals by the state government.

Among its demands were the approval, implementation, and payment of the Professional Allowance and Accoutrement Allowance for medical and dental officers, as well as the immediate payment of the outstanding balance of the 2026 MRTF.

The doctors were also demanding the formal circularisation and implementation of the Skipping Policy approved by the governor on 27 December 2023. The policy provides for Medical Officers to enter at Grade Level 13 instead of Grade Level 12, and for Consultants at GL15 Step 4, along with consequential adjustments and applicable arrears for eligible officers.

AMDO further called for the implementation of the approved 10 per cent Responsibility Allowance for non-specialist Medical Officers heading government health institutions and the restoration of the salaries of doctors whose pay was reduced after transfers to ministries, boards, agencies, or other government establishments.

Other demands included immediate recruitment and deployment of medical officers to the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board and approval of 100 per cent basic-salary Inducement and Retention Allowances for Medical Officers under the board.

The association warned that continued loss of doctors without adequate replacement, alongside unresolved remuneration and career-related issues, was placing increasing pressure on the available workforce and threatening the sustainability of healthcare delivery in the state.

AMDO said it remained open to dialogue throughout the notice period and expressed hope that government intervention would avert the proposed industrial action.