Lagos Doctors’ Strike Sparks Fears of Wider Healthcare Crisis

(Lagos Doctor. Photo by Premuim Times)

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing three-day warning strike by resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), warning that the situation could escalate into a wider healthcare crisis if not urgently addressed.

The strike, embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors at LASUTH, stems from longstanding welfare grievances that the doctors say have been ignored by the Lagos State Government and relevant hospital authorities.

In a statement issued by NMA Lagos Chairman Dr. Ewonowo Sunday, the association described the development as unfortunate but entirely avoidable, attributing the breakdown in industrial relations to prolonged delays in negotiations.

While acknowledging that strikes are typically a last resort, the NMA noted that such action often becomes unavoidable when sustained dialogue fails to yield results.

According to the association, the doctors’ grievances include delayed implementation of revised professional allowances, unpaid promotion arrears, and inadequate welfare support for resident doctors undergoing training.

Specific demands raised by the doctors include the immediate completion of the new Resident Doctors’ Quarters and Residency Training Centre, conclusion of revised professional allowance negotiations, payment of specialist allowances to eligible senior registrars, settlement of outstanding promotion arrears, approval and disbursement of the 2026.

Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of teaching allowances to registrars and house officers, and stronger security measures for healthcare workers and facilities across LASUTH and the wider state.

The NMA cautioned that the LASUTH situation mirrors a broader national pattern, pointing to a 21-day ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to the Federal Government over similar unresolved welfare issues, as well as comparable disputes at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital involving demands such as the provision of call meals for doctors on duty.

The association warned that failure to resolve these issues promptly could trigger a chain reaction of industrial actions capable of significantly disrupting healthcare delivery across Lagos and beyond.

It called on the Lagos State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and hospital management to engage urgently and constructively with striking doctors, stressing that the welfare of medical personnel is directly tied to the quality of care patients receive.

Despite its concerns, the NMA Lagos leadership urged resident doctors to remain calm, professional, and united while dialogue continues, reaffirming its commitment to working toward a resolution that improves doctors’ welfare while ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services for the public.