Because their salaries under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure have not been paid, clinical lecturers at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso went on strike for an indeterminate period of time on Wednesday.
Ruth Ilori, Chairman of the LAUTECH Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, and Abraham Akinbola, Secretary, issued a statement confirming the strike action.
The instructors explained that this move was made after the university administration were issued a 21-day deadline that came to an end before the salary structure was fully implemented.
When the authorities failed to comply with our demands after the ultimatum, the action became necessary. “Brain drain and setbacks in medical education are the results of only South-West universities not adhering to the payment structure,” the statement said.
With a warning that any disregard for their demands could further destabilize medical education in the nation, the academics urged pertinent parties to step in immediately.
In the meantime, the Edo State Government denied last week that local government employees were not paid because of a purported council problem.
Fred Itua, Governor Monday Okpebholo’s chief press secretary, issued a statement on Monday characterizing the rumors as malicious, untrue, and meant to deceive the public.
Invoking mischiefmakers jealous of the achievements of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s government since taking office in November 2024, he advised Edo ians to disregard the rumors.
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No government employee, including those employed by local governments, is owed any salary, Itua stressed, reaffirming the state government’s dedication to workers’ welfare.
He underlined, “All payments have been made in full, including the January 2025 payment.”
Despite the ongoing legal fight between the state and some embattled local government chairmen, which has produced issues in distribution payments, the administration said it has consistently paid local government employees.
