*Resident Doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, declare an ‘indefinite strike’ over unpaid specialist allowance, salary, advancement arrears, and 25 months’ arrears of their revised Professional Allowance Table
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Following the Lagos State Government’s purported failure to resolve their outstanding allowance and other welfare issues, Resident Doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, the state capital, have declared an “indefinite strike” over what they called unpaid specialist allowance, salary, advancement arrears, and 25 months’ arrears of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT).
Earlier, the medical professionals, under aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (LASUTH-ARD), declared the industrial action, effective from September 11, 2026.
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The doctors said they embarked on the ongoing strike after Dr. Alaba Gabriel Akerele, President, and Dr. Hamzat Omotoyosi Bakre, General Secretary of LASUTH-ARD, had conveyed the Association’s decision in a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency congress held virtually September 9, 2026.
In the communiqué, the Resident Doctors appreciated the Lagos State Government (LASG) for paying the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and implementing the revised professional allowance table.
However, the Association said still, there were several other critical issues that remained unresolved.
According to them, a major point of contention is the non-payment of specialist allowance to Grade Level 14 Resident Doctors, particularly Senior Registrars 1.
The Association further explained that the state government had previously agreed to align the payment with the Federal Government’s implementation for doctors in Federal institutions.
The communiqué stated: “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.”
It also accused the Lagos Government of failing to pay salary and advancement arrears owed some of its members since 2025, despite acknowledging the outstanding payments.
The government has attributed the delay to “procedural and systemic” issues, noted the Doctors.
The Association as well alleged “irregularities and discrepancies” in the payment of the revised provisional allowance to its members.
It equally faulted the delay in fully implementing the revised Professional Allowance Table, which it said became effective from July 1, 2024.
Doctors demand payment of specialist allowance for Grade Level 14
Meanwhile, the Congress has requested the Lagos State Government for the immediate implementation of the specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 Resident Doctors, payment of outstanding salary and advancement arrears, and settlement of 25 months’ arrears of the revised Professional Allowance Table.
The Doctors as well demanded a detailed breakdown of all salary components currently being used by the Lagos State Government to pay their salaries.
Indefinite strike to continue, if …, say doctors
The Resident Doctors also warned that the current strike would continue indefinitely, until the outstanding demands are addressed.
Observers have observed that the doctors’ industrial action could further strain services at LASUTH, one of the major tertiary healthcare institutions in Lagos State, if the dispute remains unresolved.
The doctors, nonetheless, also acknowledged interventions and support from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu if Lagos State, 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.
The medical professionals also appreciated the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Health and Establishments and Training, Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, hospital officials, the Medical Guild, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and past leaders of LASUTH-ARD.
Despite the interventions of these notable individuals, the Association maintained that despite the interventions, the unresolved welfare issues had left its members with no option but to withdraw their services.
According to them, the industrial action was intended to compel the Lagos State Government to address the outstanding issues and fulfil its commitments to resident doctors.