The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, has suspended its ongoing 10-day warning strike following assurances from the state government on the payment of its members’ professional allowance on or before July 31, 2026.

The association said that the government gave this commitment at a meeting held with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and the Head of Service, Mr Olanrewaju Saka.

The meeting also had in attendance the state leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The President of the association, Dr John Omotoso, disclosed this in a statement issued at the end of the association’s emergency meeting held on Wednesday.

Omotoso said that the association, after due appraisal of the issues at hand, decided to suspend the warning strike and urged its members to resume work by 8 a.m. on Thursday.

He stated: “Following a thorough appraisal of the association’s demands and the progress made thus far, Congress resolved to suspend the ongoing industrial action, with the expectation that payment of the Professional Allowance will be effected and reflected in members’ accounts on or before 31st July, 2026.

“This follows meetings and dialogue with the Ogun State Government (the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and the Head of Service, Mr Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka) in the presence of NMA Ogun leadership.

“We hereby direct that our members should resume work by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, 25th June, 2026.”

Omotoso said the association will convene an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) on August 1, 2026, to appraise the situation and determine the next line of action.

The association warned against any form of victimisation, intimidation, or harassment arising from the industrial action, urging members not to hesitate to promptly report such actions to the leadership of the association for appropriate intervention.

The association appreciated the prompt intervention of the state government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun on issues that may disrupt the provision of health services to the people of the state and affect residency training in the state-owned teaching hospital.

The doctors had on Tuesday announced a 10-day warning strike over the non-payment of revised professional and specialist allowances, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare conditions.

They noted that despite the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued by the doctors, no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed, and no firm commitment had been received from the state government regarding the implementation and payment of revised Professional and Specialist Allowances, including outstanding arrears.

The doctors also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), despite its domestication by the government, coupled with critical manpower shortages resulting in excessive workload, burnout, and prolonged working hours due to inadequate staffing across departments.

Other concerns raised by the doctors include recurrent security breaches, theft, and burglary within the hospital environment, posing risks to staff and patients; the poor state of call rooms and inadequate accommodation facilities for doctors; and the persistent poor quality and inadequate provision of call meals for resident doctors, among others.

Relegated Burnley and West Ham will meet on the opening weekend of the Championship season on Sunday, 16 August.

The Clarets finished 19th in the top flight last season and will host the Hammers, who went down on the final day.

Fellow relegated side Wolves will play the league’s curtain-raiser against Blackburn at Molineux on Friday, 14 August.

Elsewhere, Southampton, who will start the season on minus four points after the Spygate scandal, travel to Watford on the opening weekend and promoted Cardiff welcome Welsh rivals Wrexham on Monday, 17 August.

League One champions Lincoln start the season at beaten play-off finalists Middlesbrough on Saturday, 15 August and third tier play-off final winners Bolton begin the campaign with a home game against Preston on the same day.

The Championship season starts a week after clubs play their first competitive fixture in the first round of the Carabao Cup and one week before the Premier League gets under way.

Burnley, West Ham and Wolves will all be looking to secure Premier League promotions at the first time of asking.

The Clarets have now been relegated from or promoted to the top flight in each of the past four seasons.

However, now less than two months out from the start of the season they remain without a manager following the departure of Scott Parker in May.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has remained despite them dropping out of the top flight after 14 seasons.

The Portuguese led Wolves to the Championship title in his one previous season managing at this level in 2017-18.

Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League in 2025-26 and sacked boss Rob Edwards earlier this month to bring in Cesar Peixoto.

They have bolstered their squad with former England defender Kieran Trippier and returning Mexico striker Raul Jimenez.

However, all three will be aware that in both of the past two seasons a team relegated from the top tier has suffered a second successive demotion to League One.

Former Premier League champions Leicester City went the same way as Luton Town had in 2024-25.

Getafe president Angel Torres has confirmed that the club is open to selling Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche this summer.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder spent last season on loan at Premier League side Crystal Palace but failed to convince the Eagles to make the move permanent.

Uche featured in just 14 Premier League matches without registering a goal or assist, though he impressed in the UEFA Europa Conference League with two goals in four appearances.

Uche is set to return to Getafe at the end of June when his loan deal expires. However, Torres has made it clear that the club will not stand in his way if a suitable offer arrives.

“Uche has a contract with Palace until the 30th, so we can’t do anything
“He doesn’t mind coming back, and the coach wants him. If there’s an offer and we agree on it, we’ll sell him,” Torres told spherasports.com.

The Getafe president added that while the club is happy to keep Uche and the coach values him, they remain open to a sale if the right financial proposal comes in.

Uche’s future remains uncertain as several clubs are expected to monitor his situation once he returns to Spain.

Meanwhile, Real Betis and Everton have been credited with an interest in Uche. Especially, Everton, who are desperate to add creative talents to the side.

Uche may not have produced consistently while at Palace, but it is clear he has sufficient talent to thrive at a top club, provided the opportunities are available to him.