Ogun APC governorship candidate, Alli, has accused Governor Makinde of being insensitive to the strike of doctors and lecturers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of being insensitive, for ignoring the ongoing industrial action by doctors and lecturers working in the state.

Alli stated that Governor Makinde ignored the strike of doctors and lecturers while continuing his presidential campaign, adding that the action was insensitive to the suffering of the masses and thousands of students affected.

Alli disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s Campaign Organization, Bisi Oladele, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday, where he assured all categories of workers in the state of immediate payment of salaries, allowances and all other entitlements, if elected in the 2027 elections.

His statement came following industrial action carried out by medical and dental officers in the civil service and lecturers at Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso.

While the medical workers’ strike began on Monday, members of the LAUTECH branch of the University Academic Staff Union began an indefinite strike on Thursday.

The strike has left patients in public hospitals helpless and essential health services unavailable to the people of the state.

Alli described the industrial action as deeply disturbing, especially against the backdrop of persistent complaints about a lack of medical personnel, poor equipment and deteriorating facilities at state-run hospitals across the state.

To ensure prompt payment of wages and workers’ rights upon election, Alli, according to the statement, questioned how a government that has repeatedly stated workers’ welfare as its priority could allow disputes involving payment of allowances and implementation of the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement to turn into industrial disputes, thereby hampering the delivery of essential health and education services.

SSACO noted that the demands made by members of the Association of Medical and Dental Officers are not unreasonable as they relate to payment of unpaid allowances and recovery of salaries of medical personnel transferred from field duty to the Ministry of Health.

The organization said Alli was deeply concerned by industrial action involving the state’s already overwhelmed medical workforce, and warned that the suspension of their services would further worsen health service delivery in public hospitals.

“At a time when Oyo State Government hospitals are struggling with shortage of medical personnel, inadequate equipment and other operational challenges, the state cannot afford a prolonged suspension of services by doctors and dental personnel.

“The consequences are not borne by government officials who can afford private health services, but by the general public, especially pregnant women, children, retirees and low-income families who depend on government health facilities.

“Each additional day of this strike raises serious concerns about access to emergency care, continuity of care, and the well-being of vulnerable patients.

“What is worse, Governor Makinde chose the comfort of holding a political jamboree in the South East over the urgent responsibility to safeguard the health and lives of his people and the education of future leaders.

“Instead of continuing to carry out his duties to resolve a crisis that is increasingly crippling an already strained public health and education system, the governor is busy pursuing the illusion of presidential ambition.

“This is the culmination of misplaced priorities for a governor who relentlessly touts his commitment to workers’ welfare. For Makinde, the lure of presidential power appears to have outweighed the serious obligations he currently undertakes.

“Oyo deserves a governor who is focused on governance, not a governor who is distracted by the heady but increasingly unrealistic dream of occupying Aso Rock,” the statement said.

The campaign organization calls on the striking medical personnel and lecturers to remain open to meaningful dialogue while recognizing their right to pursue legitimate employment demands through lawful means.

They further called for immediate contingency arrangements to protect patients requiring emergency and life-saving medical attention during the ongoing industrial action, and emphasized that the health and lives of the people of Oyo State must remain paramount.