By Joyce Ekeh
Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, have declared an indefinite strike over alleged delays in the payment of specialist allowance, salary and advancement arrears, as well as 25 months’ arrears of the revised professional allowance table.
The Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, ARD, said the industrial action would commence from 8am on Friday, September 11, 2026, following what it described as the failure of the Lagos State Government to fully address its welfare demands.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s emergency congress held virtually on September 9, 2026, and signed by its President, Dr Alaba Gabriel Akerele, and General Secretary, Dr Hamzat Omotoyosi Bakre.
The doctors expressed appreciation to the state government for paying the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, and implementing the revised professional allowance table, PAT, but said several outstanding issues had remained unresolved.
At the centre of the dispute is the alleged failure to implement the specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 resident doctors, particularly Senior Registrars 1, despite an earlier agreement to align the payment with the Federal Government’s implementation at federal institutions.
The association said: “The Congress observed with great worry the persistent delay and failure of Lagos State Government to fulfil its promise and agreement to pay Specialist Allowance to Grade level 14 resident doctors (Senior Registrars 1) in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.”
The doctors also accused the government of failing to pay salary and advancement arrears owed members since last year, despite acknowledging the outstanding payments.
According to the communiqué, the government had attributed the delay to “procedural and systemic” issues.
The association further raised concerns over “irregularities and discrepancies” in the payment of the revised provisional allowance to its members.
It also expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in implementing the Professional Allowances Table, noting that the revised allowance was effective from July 1, 2024.
Consequently, the congress resolved to demand the immediate implementation of the specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 resident doctors and the payment of outstanding salary and advancement arrears.
It also demanded payment of 25 months’ arrears of the revised Professional Allowance Table already implemented.
The doctors further demanded the release of a detailed table showing the breakdown of all salary components currently used by the Lagos State Government in paying their salaries.
The association warned that the strike would continue indefinitely until its demands were addressed.
The development threatens to put additional pressure on services at LASUTH, one of Lagos State’s major tertiary healthcare institutions, particularly if the dispute is not resolved before the commencement of the industrial action.
Meanwhile, the doctors acknowledged the interventions and support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Head of Service Bode Agoro, Accountant-General Muyiwa John Adetola, Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi and Commissioner for Establishments and Training Afolabi Ayantola.
They also appreciated the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Health and Establishments and Training, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, other hospital officials, the Medical Guild, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and past leaders of LASUTH-ARD.
However, despite those interventions, the congress maintained that unresolved welfare issues had left it with no option but to withdraw its services.
The association said the action was necessary to compel the government to address the outstanding issues and fulfil its commitments to resident doctors.
