Makinde Seeks End to LAUTECH Strike, Says Oyo Wage Bill Now ₦18bn

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has intervened in the industrial dispute at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, as the state’s monthly wage bill rises to ₦18 billion.

The strike by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the teaching hospital was suspended following a meeting between the unions and the governor on Friday, October 16, 2026.

The meeting brought together government officials, hospital management, union leaders and other stakeholders to discuss outstanding welfare issues that had disrupted clinical services at the facility.

According to reports, Makinde pledged to address the workers’ demands by the middle of November.

The demands include payment of promotion arrears, Residency Training Funds, implementation of the Professional Allowance Table and other outstanding entitlements.

The governor also promised to begin paying the ₦80,000 minimum wage to 45 cleaners employed by the institution.

Following the meeting, leaders of NARD and JOHESU announced the suspension of the industrial action and directed their members to resume clinical duties immediately.

The development is expected to facilitate the restoration of normal healthcare services at the teaching hospital while discussions continue on the outstanding issues.

Meanwhile, Makinde has disclosed that Oyo State’s monthly wage bill has increased significantly, rising from ₦4.5 billion in 2019 to ₦18 billion in 2026.

The governor made the disclosure while addressing civil servants and labour leaders after returning from his annual leave in September.

He attributed the increase partly to improvements in workers’ remuneration, noting that the state’s minimum wage had risen from ₦18,000 in 2019 to ₦80,000.

Makinde also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, announcing the renewal of the wage award for another three months and the continuation of the transport subsidy to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

The suspension of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital strike marks a step towards resolving the immediate dispute, although the implementation of the promised payments and other welfare measures will be critical to sustaining industrial harmony.

The separate dispute involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LAUTECH branch, over the implementation of the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and outstanding academic staff entitlements remains a distinct issue.