The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, is worried about the ongoing three-day warning strike by resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). They say this strike could cause bigger problems in the Lagos healthcare system if the doctors' welfare issues are not sorted out.
The strike is now in its second day. It started after the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of LASUTH held its 19th Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference. Members voted to withdraw their services because of long-standing welfare issues that have not been addressed.
According to Channels Television, the association said they made this decision after many talks and ultimatums that did not lead to any real action from the state government.
The president of the association, Alaba Akirele, said the government has not responded properly despite several discussions with stakeholders. He warned that more strikes could happen if things do not change.
During meetings, the congress demanded that the construction of the Resident Doctors' Quarters at LASUTH should start again. They also want the revised professional allowance structure for doctors in Lagos State to be put in place urgently, and they want specialist allowances paid to eligible Senior Registrar doctors.
The association confirmed that the warning strike would last for three days, starting from Monday night, 15 June, to Friday, 19 June. They warned that if nothing is done, the situation could get worse.
In a statement reported by The Punch newspaper on Thursday, the NMA Lagos Chairman, Ewonowo Sunday, called the situation “deeply unfortunate but avoidable.” He blamed long delays in talks between the state government and the doctors for the breakdown in cooperation.
Mr Sunday said the association is very concerned. He pointed out that strike action is usually a last resort but becomes necessary when talks fail.
“We view this development with deep concern. Regrettably, this crisis was avoidable if all concerned stakeholders had been more proactive and responsive in addressing the legitimate concerns raised by the resident doctors,” he said.
The NMA pointed out several unresolved issues at the heart of the dispute. These include delays in implementing revised professional allowances, unpaid promotion arrears, and poor welfare support for medical trainees.
They also mentioned infrastructural issues, such as finishing the Resident Doctors' Quarters and Residency Training Centre at LASUTH, paying specialist allowances to eligible senior registrars, and settling outstanding promotion arrears.
Other demands include approval and release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), payment of teaching allowances to registrars and house officers, and better security for healthcare workers and patients in LASUTH and other health facilities in Lagos State.
The association warned that the LASUTH dispute shows a pattern of ongoing welfare issues affecting resident doctors in Nigeria’s healthcare system. They noted that similar problems have been reported at other hospitals, like the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where doctors have also raised issues about working conditions and welfare.
The NMA also mentioned a national issue, including a 21-day ultimatum given by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the federal government over unpaid allowances, residency funding, and other entitlements.
According to the association, these repeated disputes show a bigger problem that, if not fixed, could lead to widespread industrial action across the country’s healthcare sector.
The NMA called on the Lagos State government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and hospital managers to act quickly to stop the dispute from getting worse. They stressed that delays in resolving welfare issues could hurt healthcare delivery and lower the morale of medical workers.
Even with these warnings, the NMA Lagos leadership urged resident doctors to stay calm and professional while talks with the relevant authorities continue. They reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and working together to restore peace and ensure healthcare services go on without interruption in Lagos State.
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