OAUTH Resident Doctors Give 4-Week Ultimatum Over Alleged Poor Service

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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) Ile-Ife chapter in Osun State, has issued a four-week ultimatum to the management of the hospital over alleged poor service.

Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday, the NARD Chairman at OAUTH, Dr. Ibunkun Enesi, said the hospital, once renowned for its patient care, is now facing a crisis due to “unpalatable” welfare conditions that have demotivated doctors and healthcare workers.

Enesi outlined several critical issues affecting the staff to include a severe shortage of doctors and clinical staff.

“The last employment drive in 2022 remains incomplete, exacerbating the stress on existing medical personnel. This shortage has led to increased waiting times for patients,” he stated.

Enesi, however, called for the immediate completion of the 2022 employment process and the release of waivers for the 2023 and 2024 employment of clinical staff.

The NARD chairman added: “Additionally, the resident doctors have not been paid for 14 months, with around 45 doctors still awaiting their March 2024 arrears.

“Despite engaging the hospital management through formal and informal channels, only three months of the 17-month salary arrears have been paid. The hospital management’s response has been to label these hardworking doctors as ‘illegal staff’, despite their essential contributions to the hospital.”

Enesi also called for the immediate payment of all salary arrears and the unconditional payment of the March salaries for the 45 members, who he said were unjustly removed from the payroll.

“Labourers deserve their wages,” he stated.
He further lamented the deplorable working conditions, including disrepair core rooms and lack of basic amenities such as water and electricity.

Enesi said: “Despite repeated notifications, the management has taken no action to address these issues. Furthermore, core meals for doctors on call were stopped two months ago. The resident doctors demand the restoration of these meals and the renovation of core rooms to acceptable standards.

“Another critical demand is the immediate payment of appointment allowances, which have been settled in other centers across the country but not at OAUTH.”

The implementation of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy following a five-day protest for the non-payment of 14 months of arrears was also condemned as Enesi called on well-meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and press the hospital management to address these issues to prevent a disruption of activities at the hospital.

“The resident doctors have given the hospital management a four-week ultimatum to fulfill these demands, failing which industrial action may ensue,” he added.

Prof. Josephine Ezeie, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, who spoke on behalf of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of OAUTH, Prof. John Okeniyi, appealed to the protesting doctors.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised by our esteemed doctors and assure them that efforts are being made to address these issues promptly. We urge the doctors to exercise patience as we work towards a resolution,” he said.

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