Resident doctors at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) have raised serious concerns over unpaid salary arrears and increased workload, leading them to commence a seven-day warning strike starting October 6, 2025. The strike is aimed at pressuring the hospital management and government authorities to address their grievances, including overdue salary payments particularly affecting the 2023 batch of resident doctors.
The doctors have expressed frustration over the backlog of unpaid salaries which have negatively impacted their welfare and morale amid already demanding work conditions. They demand immediate settlement of these arrears to alleviate the financial and professional strain they are experiencing. The strike is a direct response to unmet promises and prolonged delays in addressing these critical welfare issues.
This development is part of a broader wave of unrest within Nigeria’s health sector, where resident doctors in various institutions have issued ultimatums and embarked on strikes over unpaid salaries, the delayed implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) salary review, and inadequate working conditions. Resident doctors form the backbone of clinical services in federal hospitals, making their grievances especially significant for healthcare delivery.
The UUTH striking doctors have called on relevant stakeholders, including hospital management and government officials, to urgently intervene and settle all outstanding payments to avert escalation of the industrial action. They emphasized the need for improved working conditions and recognition of their critical role within the healthcare system.