Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured health workers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso that his administration is fully committed to addressing their grievances and improving their welfare.
This assurance came on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of striking professional bodies at the hospital. Nurses and midwives had embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands for better working conditions and unpaid entitlements.
The meeting, held at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, was part of the governor’s efforts to end the industrial action and restore normal operations at the institution. A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, confirmed the governor’s visit and his engagement with the striking workers.
Makinde’s intervention led to the announcement of several immediate actions to meet the demands of the workers. These include the constitution of a Governing Council for the teaching hospital, which he promised would be set up before the end of the week.
“One of the major issues is the absence of a Governing Council. I want to assure you that by the end of this week, the Council will be in place. They will be on ground, and we’ll give them a clear mandate and timeline to address outstanding matters,” he said.
As part of the measures, the governor also approved a monthly stipend of N80,000 for 65 non-staff security personnel working at the hospital. These individuals will now be recognised as ad hoc staff and fully integrated into the hospital system.
Makinde further announced an increase of N35 million in the hospital’s monthly subvention to address operational challenges. In addition, he approved the payment of N219 million in accumulated promotion arrears, to be disbursed in three equal instalments in October, November, and December 2025.
He also pledged to pay arrears of the new minimum wage for January to August 2025, also in three tranches within the same months.
While some issues, such as the review of salary structures and other internal matters, were left to the incoming Governing Council to address, the governor promised that concerns raised by nursing students would also be looked into.
Governor Makinde stressed that although his government remains committed to workers’ welfare, it also has the responsibility of managing limited resources to meet the broader needs of the state, including infrastructure and development.
“We must balance the books. While we care deeply about our workers, we also want to leave behind a state that is livable and developed for generations to come,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who was part of the governor’s entourage, said the intervention underscored Makinde’s dedication to providing quality healthcare in the state.
The Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Olawale Olakulehin, expressed gratitude for the governor’s visit and described him as a “listening leader” who truly understands the needs of the people.
Representatives of various groups, including the Joint Health Sector Union, Nurses and Midwives, and student bodies, also spoke at the meeting. They commended the governor’s response and called for continued improvements in their working and learning environments.
After the hospital visit, Governor Makinde proceeded to the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye. There, he announced that the reconstruction of inner roads in Ogbomoso would soon begin. According to him, two contractors would be handling the projects to ensure quick completion.
The Soun praised the governor’s leadership and listed some of his recent achievements, including resolving the LAUTECH ownership crisis, improving the institution’s funding, and endorsing his appointment as the traditional ruler.
He described Makinde as a governor with “many landmarks” in Ogbomoso and thanked him for his continuous support to the town.
Joining the governor on the visit were several top government officials, including Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo; Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye; Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Mojeed Mogbonjubola; and Chairman of LAUTECH Governing Council, Professor Wale Omole.
Also present were the Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Akinwale Akinwole, and other key aides.
