UCH Resident Doctors Resume Work After Month-Long Nationwide Strike

UCH resident doctors resume work after month-long nationwide strike. Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have resumed work after a month-long nationwide strike.

Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have resumed work after a month-long nationwide strike.

The doctors had been on strike since November 1, following the directives of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.
The NARD directed its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike, following the government’s failure to address their demands.
The association demands a 200 per cent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022.

The doctors also demand immediate recruitment of clinical staff and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks that are delaying the replacement of exited doctors, among other demands.

The president of the UCH’s NARD, Gboyega Ajibola, said that the NARD National Executive Council met on November 29 to reappraise the situation. He noted that the government had met most of their immediate and short-term demands.

According to Mr Ajibola, a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the government, enumerating each of the association’s demands and the points of execution.
“Based on the satisfactory terms of the MoU, the NARD NEC decided to suspend the industrial action and give the government a period of four weeks to reappraise the efforts of the government as contained in the signed MoU.

Resident Doctors (NARD)

“Having suspended the strike on November 29, as in the tradition of NARD, each centre was mandated to hold a congress on December 1, for all centre presidents to brief their members on development.

“After the brief, the centre presidents will direct all members to resume at their duty posts. In compliance with this, a congress was held at 8:00 a.m. today (Monday), where members were updated and directed to resume work,” he said.
Mr Ajibola explained that all members resumed work on Monday.

Plateau Recorded 2,786 New HIV Infections In 2024

Plateau recorded 2,786 new HIV infections in 2024. Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong,  has said the state recorded 2,786 new cases of HIV infections and 460 related deaths in 2024.

Mr Ba’amlong disclosed this on Monday in Jos at an event to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day, marked globally on December 1, with the theme “Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”

He said that 51,370 persons were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, comprising 14,001 males and 33,055 females.
He added that 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The commissioner explained that 98,403 persons were screened between January and September 2025, out of which 1,910 tested positive.
Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, adding that 30,743 pregnant women were tested within the period, and 39 who tested positive had been linked to care.
He said the state had expanded HIV testing services to more than 900 health facilities and intensified awareness on prevention and treatment.
The commissioner called for stronger community engagement, improved access to healthcare, and increased investment in research and innovation to sustain progress against the disease.

He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for approving funds used to procure HIV dual test kits, which he said had been distributed to health facilities across the state.

Mr Ba’amlong also lauded development partners for supporting the delivery of quality healthcare services.
Similarly, the executive director of the Plateau AIDS Control Agency (PLACA), Esther Turaki, said the state had achieved a viral load suppression rate of 92 per cent as of June 2025.

Ms Turaki described the HIV Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Sustainability (DRMS) Strategy as a critical initiative aimed at standardising and scaling existing efforts while introducing innovative financing mechanisms.

Plateau

According to her, the strategy sets out a clear plan for mobilising new domestic resources by identifying funding sources, annual targets and key actions required for implementation.
She applauded Mr Mutfwang for his sustained support to the agency.

The keynote address was delivered by Chris Isichei, who urged governments to reduce reliance on donor funding and establish a dedicated HIV funding bank as external support continues to decline.

He also encouraged the Plateau State government to integrate HIV and AIDS treatment into the state’s health insurance scheme.

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.

He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.

Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.

Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.

‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’

Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.

“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.

“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”

He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.

“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.

Obaseki

“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.

“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”