The doctors’ group at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has warned that the hospital might soon stop working completely.
They said many workers are leaving, salaries are too, and the government is not helping enough. These problems are putting the hospital at serious risk.
In a letter dated July 4, 2025, sent to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the doctors said the situation is very bad. They explained that the number of resident doctors has dropped from almost 270 to less than 65.
The letter, which a journalist got on Friday, said many doctors have quit and taken better jobs either in Nigeria or abroad.The letter was signed by Dr. Stephen Adedokun (the President) and Dr. Adedapo Mustapha (the General Secretary). It was titled: “Open Letter to Governor Seyi Makinde: An Urgent Appeal to Save LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
“The doctors wrote, “We want to inform you that LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, which is very important for healthcare and medical training in Oyo State, is close to collapsing. It’s the only major hospital in the state and takes referrals from all 33 local government areas and nearby states too.”
They added that the hospital trains many students in Medicine, Nursing, Lab Science, and other fields, as well as doctors who are specializing in different areas.
Sadly, the hospital is struggling because many workers have left. This is mainly due to low salaries, poor government funding, and no benefits to encourage workers to stay.
Right now, hospital staff are paid about 30% less than other government-employed health workers, even though they do the same kind of work.
The doctors said people are resigning nearly every week, and this is causing major shortages in important hospital departments.They said,
“The number of doctors has dropped badly. From about 270 before, there are now fewer than 65. Most of the doctors left for better jobs, either overseas or in other Nigerian hospitals. Every week brings more resignation letters, making it harder for the few remaining staff.”
Some important departments have no junior doctors left. Senior doctors, who should be focusing on their final exams, are now working extra hours and doing emergency calls often.
In one department, there are more senior doctors than junior ones, with only one junior doctor left. The hospital’s four laboratory departments each have just one doctor, so they all have to work every day without rest.
The remaining staff are worn out, patient care is getting worse, and training for young doctors is suffering.
“This situation is not sustainable,” the doctors said. “It’s causing extreme stress for the few staff left, making healthcare worse and harming the training environment. Without quick help, the hospital’s doctor training program may completely fall apart.
The doctors also said that LAUTECH Teaching Hospital pays some of the lowest salaries in the country, which makes it hard to hire new people.
Making things worse, the doctors said the government has not yet given them the new minimum wage that was approved in January 2025.
They explained, “Even though the state government passed a new minimum wage, it hasn’t been applied to LAUTECH staff. Other health workers in the state are being paid the new rates, but our hospital hasn’t gotten the extra funds needed to pay us.”
Also, they haven’t received the Medical Residency Training Fund, and the law that supports it hasn’t been approved since it was first discussed in 2021.
The doctors ended their letter by asking Governor Makinde and kind-hearted Nigerians to help urgently. They said the people of Oyo State need a working hospital with enough staff.
They closed the letter by saying, “May LAUTECH Teaching Hospital survive. May Oyo State do well. May Nigeria succeed.”
