Medical students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene in the crisis rocking the institution’s Teaching Hospital, warning that their training has been paralyzed by repeated strikes and industrial actions.
In an open letter addressed to the governor and signed by “A Concerned Student of Medicine and Surgery”, the students lamented that a program designed for six years has now dragged into its ninth year, largely due to COVID-19 disruptions, ASUU strikes, and most recently, repeated industrial actions at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
The letter noted that the hospital, once a pride of Ogbomoso, is gradually losing public confidence as training activities have been stalled.
“Since August, consultants have withdrawn teaching services over unresolved issues with the university. Without a functional hospital, we cannot learn. Each lost day pushes our dreams further away,” the letter read.
The students highlighted the cumulative effects of strikes by nurses, resident doctors, and consultants, citing poor pay, overwork, and unpaid allowances as key drivers of the crisis.
The writer praised Governor Makinde’s past interventions in resolving LAUTECH’s challenges, including clearing salary arrears, reducing tuition fees, and securing accreditation for key programs, but urged him to act swiftly to rescue the medical program from collapse.
“Your Excellency, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital is the only tertiary health institution solely owned by Oyo State. Its collapse would stain the great reputation of your administration. Please, do not let our years of training elongate into despair,” the letter appealed.
The students called on the governor to use his authority and goodwill to mediate between the management and striking workers in order to restore academic and clinical activities without further delay.
