The Umbrella

Crisis Looms in Edo as Resident Doctors declare 5-day strike over Gov. Okpebholo’s failure to meet welfare demands

A major healthcare crisis is brewing in Edo State as the Association of Resident Doctors under Edo State Government Employment (ARD EDGE) has announced a five-day warning strike beginning Thursday, August 21, 2025.

The doctors accuse Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration of dragging its feet on critical welfare issues that directly affect healthcare delivery across the state.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Ernest Hills Oamen, the doctors said a meeting held with the Head of Service ended without tangible assurances. Despite claims that the governor had approved their demands, ARD EDGE insists that promises remain vague, with no concrete timelines for execution.

Among the promises made by government officials were: payment of the 2024/2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) alongside August salaries, evaluation of the proposed doctors’ residence by the Public Building Department, and phased payment of CONMESS arrears from 2024. However, the doctors pointed out that none of these commitments came with clear deadlines.

More pressing demands remain completely unaddressed. These include:

Provision of temporary accommodation for doctors pending renovation of official residences.

Settlement of outstanding CONMESS/CONHESS arrears.

Payment of promotion arrears owed to doctors for over six years.

A firm timeline for the completion of the Doctors’ Residence project.

Correct calculation of arrears for members under the Hospitals Management Agency.

“The continued lack of concrete timelines and absence of full implementation have left us with no option but to embark on the scheduled 5-day warning strike,” the statement declared, warning that the government’s inaction jeopardizes not only doctors’ welfare but also the healthcare needs of ordinary Edo citizens.

The looming strike is set to paralyze healthcare services across the state, raising questions about Governor Okpebholo’s capacity to manage labour relations barely months into his administration. Critics argue that the governor risks starting his tenure on a note of crisis and public dissatisfaction if urgent action is not taken to avert the industrial action.

Public Affairs commentators note that health sector unions in Edo have long complained of neglect under the present State Government, and the doctors’ strike may become the first major test of Okpebholo’s political will to translate promises into action.

ARD EDGE emphasized that while it remains open to dialogue, it will not hesitate to escalate its actions if the government continues to treat welfare issues with levity.

For now, Edo residents may brace themselves for disrupted healthcare services as the doctors dig in their heels against what they describe as the state government’s “pattern of empty promises.”