Lagos Doctors Declare Warning Strike Over Salary Deductions

Medical doctors employed by the Lagos State Government have announced a three-day warning strike to protest what they described as an “illegal and disrespectful” deduction from their salaries.

Operating under the umbrella of the Medical Guild, the doctors said the warning strike will run from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, if their demands are not met by the state government.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Guild’s secretariat, Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, explained that the dispute arose after the state government unilaterally slashed the salaries of all medical and dental practitioners in its employ in April 2025.

“The development came to us as a rude shock. Our members were visibly aggrieved and agitated. Although many clamoured for an immediate strike, the officers’ committee chose the path of civility, pursuing advocacy and diplomatic engagement with relevant government agencies,” Olugbogi said.

He disclosed that after several engagements, the deductions were reversed and a six-member conciliation committee—comprising representatives from both the government and the Guild—was established. During the process, the Guild presented documents clarifying the proper calculation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and both parties agreed to maintain the status quo pending further deliberations by the government.

However, tensions resurfaced after the Lagos State Treasury Office implemented a fresh round of deductions in July, a move the Guild described as a breach of trust.

In response, the Guild issued a warning strike notice and is demanding the immediate reversal of the latest deductions. They are also calling for the full payment of 12 months of revised CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The Guild has resolved to give the state government a 21-day ultimatum following the warning strike. If its demands remain unmet by then, the union says it will proceed with an indefinite industrial action.

Dr. Olugbogi criticised the timing of the deductions, especially given Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges and the mass emigration of healthcare professionals—popularly known as the japa syndrome.

“Let it be known that the most senior doctor in Lagos State employment does not earn up to $1,100. And yet, the government, in its wisdom, feels that reducing this meagre income is the best way to motivate the health workforce,” he said.

He appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene before the situation leads to a collapse of the state’s healthcare delivery.

“We are by this medium calling on our compassionate Governor to kindly intervene to ensure the reversal of the illegally deducted funds,” he added.

Over 385 doctors were present at the emergency congress where the strike was ratified. The Guild’s Secretary, Dr. Adekunle Akinade, also confirmed that the union is prepared to escalate its actions if the government fails to respond.