Nurses and Midwives at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Commence Indefinite Strike Over Wage Dispute

Nurses and midwives at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have begun an indefinite strike due to the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage and unresolved welfare issues. The industrial action, which started on Friday, September 19, 2025, follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the hospital management.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Unit, stated that despite repeated engagements with management, no meaningful steps were taken to address their demands. Key grievances include the non-payment of the new minimum wage effective from January 2025, unpaid promotion arrears from 2018 to 2024, severe staff shortages, and dilapidated working conditions such as poorly furnished nurses’ stations and restrooms.

The union emphasized that workers at the hospital have faced systemic neglect compared to their counterparts in other state-owned health institutions, leading to financial strain, low morale, and attrition of skilled personnel. They warned that the strike would severely disrupt healthcare services for thousands of patients, including pregnant women, children, accident victims, and emergency cases, as the hospital serves as a critical referral centre for Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and neighbouring communities.

The association has called on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene urgently to ensure fairness and equity in staff welfare, stressing that industrial harmony is essential for sustaining quality healthcare delivery in the state. The nurses and midwives reaffirmed their commitment to professional excellence but maintained that the strike would continue until their demands are fully met.

This industrial action reflects broader unrest in Nigeria’s health sector, where disputes over wages, allowances, and working conditions remain prevalent.