Doctors employed by the Lagos State Government have declared a three-day warning strike, set to begin on Monday, July 28, in protest over controversial salary deductions and unresolved payment issues.
The Medical Guild, which represents medical and dental practitioners in the state’s service, said the strike was a response to what it described as repeated breaches of trust and disregard for earlier agreements by the state government.
At a press briefing held in Lagos, the Guild’s Chairman, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, explained that the issue started in April 2025 when the state government implemented an unexpected salary cut affecting all doctors. Although the decision sparked widespread anger among members, the Guild opted for a diplomatic approach, entering negotiations instead of immediate industrial action.
Following the initial uproar, a temporary resolution was reached after discussions with government representatives, and the deductions were reversed. A joint six-member committee—comprising three representatives each from the state and the Guild—was set up to address the matter.
However, tensions flared again when, despite prior agreements, the Lagos State Treasury Office reintroduced the deductions in July. Feeling betrayed, the Guild announced that the warning strike would run from Monday through Thursday unless the state government reversed the pay cuts and addressed other lingering issues.
Among the Guild’s demands are the immediate restoration of the deducted salaries and the full payment of a year’s worth of arrears under the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Guild has also issued a 21-day ultimatum, warning that failure to meet their demands could lead to an indefinite strike.
Dr. Olugbogi criticized the timing of the deductions, noting that healthcare workers are already under strain due to poor pay and the mass departure of professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, known locally as the “japa” trend. He highlighted that the highest-paid doctor in the Lagos public system still earns below $1,100 monthly—an amount he described as inadequate and now being further eroded.
Over 385 doctors reportedly attended the emergency meeting where the strike decision was finalized. The Guild’s Secretary, Dr. Adekunle Akinade, reinforced the union’s determination to continue the fight if their grievances remain unaddressed.
The doctors have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene personally and take steps to prevent a deepening crisis in the state’s healthcare system.
