LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Strike: Some of Their Demands Are Unreasonable, I Will Meet Them in Coming Weeks — Gov. Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has described some of the demands of workers involved in the ongoing strike at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, as unreasonable, saying he would meet with their representatives in the coming weeks to discuss the issues.

Makinde said discussions with the workers were ongoing, adding that his deputy had also been involved in efforts to resolve the dispute, which began while he was on leave.

The governor spoke during an interview while responding to questions from members of the public about the industrial action at the teaching hospital.

He acknowledged that some of the workers’ demands were reasonable but argued that others required reconsideration, particularly requests for outstanding payments dating back several years.

“Some of their requests too are unreasonable. Some are reasonable, but some are not,” Makinde said.

The governor specifically questioned demands for the settlement of certain outstanding payments dating back to 2017, suggesting that the requests needed to be considered within the broader context of the relationship between the workers and the state government.

“You are saying that a payment from 2017 must be paid and so on,” he said.

Makinde disclosed that he was aware that the workers wanted to meet with him personally and promised to engage them directly in the coming weeks as part of efforts to find a resolution to the dispute.

“I will meet with them because I know they want to meet with me,” he said.

However, the governor urged the workers to demonstrate what he described as good faith in their dealings with the state government, maintaining that the administration had treated them fairly since 2019.

“But let them also demonstrate good faith for the state that has been fair with them since 2019,” he added.

The governor’s remarks indicate that efforts to resolve the industrial dispute are continuing, with a direct meeting expected to provide an opportunity for both parties to discuss the outstanding issues.

However, Makinde did not disclose the specific demands he considered unreasonable or announce a definite date for the proposed meeting.

The strike at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, has drawn attention to the outstanding issues between the workers and the state government, with the planned engagement expected to form part of ongoing efforts to address their grievances.