Resident Doctors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia for intervention in the ongoing crisis affecting the institution, more than a month after they began their industrial action.

The doctors, led by their President, Kawen Pededoo, made their appeal during a press briefing at the hospital, where they outlined their grievances, which include poor accommodation and overall welfare within the hospital facility.

Following the briefing, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Stephen Hwande, issued a three-month notice to the striking Resident Doctors, instructing them to vacate their residential quarters to facilitate a planned renovation exercise.

Under the leadership of Governor Alia, BSUTH aims to transform into a state-of-the-art medical center that meets international standards. However, the repeated strikes by Resident Doctors have hampered progress toward achieving this goal.

The doctors cited ongoing issues such as inadequate accommodation, welfare concerns, and delayed resolutions of their demands. While many of the issues have been longstanding, Dr. Hwande argued that some of the demands were only recently presented, causing delays in addressing them.

Despite the ongoing standoff, the Resident Doctors acknowledged the state government’s efforts so far. They again called on Governor Alia to intervene, expressing hope that his involvement would help end the strike and further the hospital’s transformation into a world-class medical facility.