Concerned stakeholders have called on Governor Seyi Makinde to end the 60-day strike embarked upon by health workers in Oyo State.

The nurses and midwives in the health sector in the state have been on an industrial action for the past 60 days to press home their demands for better conditions of service.

The stakeholders, in a statement signed by John Toluwanimi and Adeniran Folaranmi, noted the implications of the strike on the people of the state.

According to the statement, the striking workers have tabled an eight-point demand, one of which is that the Seyi Makinde administration should, as a matter of urgency, recruit more nurses, midwives, and instructors to ameliorate the deplorable condition of the health care delivery system in Oyo State.

Other demands include, but are not limited to, staff motivation, creating a conducive working atmosphere, raising staff morale, and recruiting other categories of health care workers like doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and medical laboratory scientists for an effective health care delivery system.

They alleged that the government has been putting out false vacancy advertisements for health workers without actually recruiting staff into the Oyo State Government-owned hospitals.

The statement added that, “As the number of doctors and health care workers in the state government-owned hospitals dwindles, hopes for an amicable resolution of the ongoing labor crisis between Governor Seyi Makinde and the striking workers are becoming forlorn.

“Recently, the striking workers insisted that there was no going back on the industrial action unless the Seyi Makinde administration was prepared to address their demands.

“Without a doubt, anyone who is familiar with the Oyo State government-owned hospitals in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Okeogun cannot question the position of the striking workers. The hospitals are very shabby, unkempt, and poorly lit. They are not only lacking in manpower but also in health care facilities and delivery,” it said.

It is very sad to note that the Oyo State House of Assembly, which is supposed to act as a check and balance on the executive, has not said a word on the health crisis either in plenary or at the House committee level.

The group, therefore, appealed to Makinde to summon a meeting of the critical stakeholders in order to find a lasting solution to the crisis. (Tribune)

Update news