The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to resolve the dispute with striking doctors, warning that continued industrial action could put patients’ lives at risk.
The party said the government needed to act quickly to address the concerns raised by medical workers and prevent further disruption to hospitals across the state.
In a statement released on Saturday, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, criticised the administration for failing to reach an agreement with the doctors before they embarked on the warning strike.
Members of the Kwara Doctors Forum began a seven-day strike on Thursday after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the state government on October 1.
The dispute involves three medical associations, including the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, and the Association of Resident Doctors, KWASUTH.
The doctors are demanding an end to a two per cent salary deduction for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme, popularly called KwaraCare. They are also seeking the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), payment of outstanding allowances for 2025 and 2026, and the recruitment of additional doctors.
Their demands further include employing house officers, medical officers, resident doctors and consultants to fill vacancies in government-owned hospitals.
The PDP maintained that the concerns raised by the health workers should not be ignored.
“We’ve studied the doctors’ grievances, and we believe they are genuine and deserve urgent attention and not cold silence that the government is giving them,” the statement read.
The party said the government had an opportunity to negotiate with the doctors during the 14-day notice period but failed to prevent the strike.
“The government had 14 days to address these concerns before the warning strike commenced. A responsible administration should have used that window to engage the doctors, resolve the outstanding issues and prevent any disruption to healthcare services,” the statement said.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the PDP raised concerns about the shortage of medical personnel, poor working conditions and inadequate healthcare infrastructure in Kwara.
It argued that the challenges could push experienced doctors to seek employment elsewhere while making the state less attractive to newly qualified professionals.
The party put the number of doctors in Kwara at about 362, serving an estimated population of 4.2 million. It compared this with an estimated 1,500 doctors in neighbouring Osun State, which it described as having a smaller population.
The PDP said the reported figures showed the need for the state government to recruit more medical workers and improve their welfare.
It also warned that continued shortages and poor investment in health facilities could weaken Kwara’s reputation as a destination for patients from neighbouring states.
According to the party, an extended strike could make it harder for residents to access emergency treatment and specialist medical services.
The opposition party also questioned the reported movement of ₦200m in cash by the governor for political activities. It argued that public resources should instead be directed towards addressing pressing needs in the health sector.
The PDP said such funds could support hospital upgrades, medical equipment purchases, recruitment and the settlement of unpaid allowances.
It expressed support for the striking doctors and other health workers, urging the state government to negotiate with them and resolve the dispute without further delay.
The party said meeting the doctors’ demands and improving conditions in public hospitals would help restore medical services and reduce the risk of patients being left without adequate care.