The Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande, has urged the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), BSUTH branch, to uphold their agreement with the state government and end their current industrial action.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, August 11, 2025, Dr. Hwande reaffirmed that both the hospital management and the Benue State Government remain committed to maintaining peace and cooperation in the health sector.
He clarified that the dispute was not related to unpaid salaries but to the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) , an annual financial support package for the training of resident doctors.
According to him, Governor Hyacinth Alia had approved and disbursed the 2024 MRTF in December last year, a move that earned him an award from the ARD for being the first governor in Nigeria to release the fund promptly.
Dr. Hwande expressed concern that the 2025 MRTF was being used as a reason for the strike, stressing that the year is still in progress and that payment processes are already underway with the appropriate authorities.
He maintained that hospital operations are ongoing, with Consultants, Medical Officers, and House Officers attending to patients in the Accident and Emergency Unit, General Outpatient Department, and VIP Smart Clinic.
The CMD appealed to the doctors to return to duty for the sake of patients while negotiations continue to resolve the issue amicably.
