Lagos Govt Appeals To Doctors To Suspend 3-Day Warning Strike

The Lagos State Government has appealed to the Medical Guild to postpone its planned three-day warning strike scheduled to begin today, assuring that discussions are ongoing to address the doctors’ concerns.

In a statement issued by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the government emphasized that negotiations with the Medical Guild are active and that all grievances are being addressed with “sincerity and urgency.”

The Medical Guild—the association representing doctors employed by the Lagos State Government—announced the strike on Saturday, with the action set to commence Monday, July 29.

The state government acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns raised, stressing its commitment to the welfare, motivation, and productivity of healthcare workers across the state.

“A conciliation committee, comprising representatives of both the Medical Guild and the government, had previously been constituted to address outstanding issues. Meetings have been held, and the documents submitted by the guild are currently under review in line with relevant policies and financial regulations,” the statement noted.

“As a responsible government, we deeply value the vital contributions of our healthcare professionals in providing timely and quality healthcare to over 20 million residents of Lagos,” the government said.

It urged the Medical Guild to continue engaging through dialogue in order to reach a peaceful and fair resolution, adding that strike action could disrupt critical healthcare services and ultimately harm the general public.

The government also thanked Lagos residents for their patience and assured them that contingency plans are in place to minimize service disruptions during the strike period.

Meanwhile, at a press conference held at the Medical Guild Secretariat in Lagos, Chairman Dr. Japhet Olugbogi explained that the strike was prompted by a series of unresolved issues, particularly regarding irregular salary deductions.

He stated that the conflict dates back to April when the 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 deteriorated again in July when fresh deductions were made—this time without prior notice or explanation.

Among the doctors’ key demands are the immediate reversal of the July deductions and the full payment of 12 months’ arrears from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).