Medical doctors in Ondo State, under the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), have declared a three-day warning strike starting Monday, July 14, 2025, protesting what they describe as gross neglect of the health sector and worsening conditions of service by the state government.
The doctors’ grievances include a severe shortage of medical personnel, with some general hospitals reportedly operating with only one doctor for an entire local government area, non-payment of salaries and allowances to eight newly recruited doctors since October 2024, unpaid hazard allowances from October 2023 to January 2024, outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024, and salary shortfalls affecting other members.
They also condemned a sudden tax increase implemented in April 2025 without prior consultation. Despite issuing a 14-working-day ultimatum to the government that expired on July 1 without any satisfactory response, the state government has yet to address these issues.
The doctors warned that failure to resolve their demands during the warning strike would lead to an indefinite industrial action, potentially crippling the state’s fragile healthcare system. While reaffirming their commitment to healthcare delivery, the medical practitioners stressed that they can no longer operate under such demoralizing and difficult conditions, urging the government to take immediate action to salvage public health services in Ondo State.