By Louis Akwarandu
Medical doctors, under the employment of the Lagos State Government, will commence a three-day warning strike starting Monday, July 28, 2025, to protest what they describe as “unlawful and insensitive” salary deductions
The strike, organized by the Medical Guild, follows repeated deductions in April and July despite earlier resolutions. The Guild stated that it had pursued dialogue and diplomacy before deciding on industrial action.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi described the deductions as a breach of trust. He revealed that the state government had initially reversed the April deductions after extensive negotiations, but the Treasury Office reintroduced them in July, violating the terms of a standing agreement.
“The most senior doctor in Lagos does not earn up to $1,100. Yet, the government has chosen to cut from that meager income. This is not just unfair — it is unacceptable,” Olugbogi said.
The doctors are demanding the immediate reversal of the July deductions and full payment of 12 months’ arrears under the revised CONMESS owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Guild has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government, warning that failure to address their grievances could result in a full-scale, indefinite strike.
Secretary of the Guild, Dr. Adekunle Akinade reaffirmed the union’s readiness to escalate its actions if the state government continues to ignore their demands.
This development comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating state of the health sector in Nigeria, worsened by poor remuneration and the ongoing exodus of medical professionals — widely referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”
As tensions rise, healthcare services across Lagos may be significantly disrupted unless urgent intervention is taken by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant authorities.
