Medical doctors under the employ of the Lagos State Government will, from Monday, July 28, embark on a three-day warning strike to protest what they described as “illegal and disrespectful” salary deductions by the state.
The strike, announced by the Medical Guild, the umbrella body of medical and dental practitioners in the state’s public service, will commence by 8:00 a.m. on Monday and end at the same time on Thursday, July 31.
At a press conference held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, said the action followed a series of failed attempts to address the matter through dialogue.
He disclosed that the disagreement began in April 2025 when the state government unilaterally deducted part of doctors’ salaries. Although the deductions were later reversed following what he described as “spirited intervention and strategic engagement,” the situation relapsed in July with a fresh round of deductions, this time without prior notice or explanation.
According to Olugbogi, “Our members were visibly aggrieved. While many called for an immediate strike, the officers’ committee chose the path of civility and pursued advocacy and engagement.”
He said a six-member conciliation committee, comprising three representatives each from the Guild and government, was set up to address the issue, with a mutual agreement to maintain the status quo until a final decision was reached.
However, the Guild accused the Lagos State Treasury Office of violating the agreement by going ahead with another deduction this month.
In reaction, the doctors listed key demands, including the immediate reversal of the July deductions and the full payment of the 12-month revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Guild also issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government, threatening an indefinite strike should the issues remain unresolved.
Dr. Olugbogi decried the prevailing economic challenges confronting medical personnel and the worsening state of the health sector in Lagos, noting that the ongoing exodus of medical professionals, popularly referred to as the “japa syndrome”had already stretched the system thin.
“It is disheartening that the most senior doctor in Lagos State does not earn up to $1,100 monthly, yet the government sees fit to reduce this already meagre income. It’s not just unfair; it’s unacceptable,” he said.
He appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently wade into the matter to forestall a total collapse of healthcare services in the state.
Also speaking, Secretary of the Guild, Dr. Adekunle Akinade, affirmed the union’s readiness to escalate its industrial action should the government fail to heed their demands.
He said over 385 doctors attended the emergency congress where the strike decision was unanimously ratified, describing the turnout as a strong indication of the depth of discontent within the system.
“Doctors have continued to sacrifice amid difficult conditions, but their patience is being stretched to its limit,” Akinade added.
As of press time, the Lagos State Government had yet to issue an official response to the doctors’ planned action.