Medical doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, under the auspices of the Medical Guild, have announced a three-day warning strike set to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, in protest against what they described as the “unlawful and disrespectful deduction” of their salaries.
The warning strike will end by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, and is seen as a response to repeated violations of earlier agreements made between the doctors and the state.
At a press conference held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, Chairman of the Guild, disclosed that the conflict began in April 2025, when the Lagos State Government unilaterally deducted salaries of medical and dental officers without prior consultation or notice.
Though the Guild initially pursued dialogue and peaceful negotiation, the state’s Treasury Office reintroduced the deductions in July, breaching a standing agreement and triggering the decision to go on strike.
“It is disheartening that the most senior medical doctor in the Lagos State system earns less than $1,100. Instead of supporting our members, the government is cutting from their already inadequate income. This cannot be allowed to continue,” Olugbogi stated.
The Guild is demanding:
An immediate reversal of the July salary deductions
Full payment of 12-month revised CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at LASUTH
The union has also issued a 21-day ultimatum, warning that failure to meet their demands may lead to an indefinite strike, a scenario that could severely disrupt healthcare delivery in the state.
“More than 385 doctors attended the emergency congress and unanimously voted for this strike. This is a clear message to the government,” said Dr. Adekunle Akinade, Guild Secretary.
A Health Sector in Crisis
The Guild emphasized that the economic hardship, coupled with a growing exodus of medical professionals from Nigeria, has weakened the healthcare system. This, they argue, is the wrong time for the government to further burden its workforce.
The doctors are calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to personally intervene to restore confidence and avoid a health sector collapse.
As the countdown to the warning strike begins, residents of Lagos are bracing for the impact, while the medical community watches closely to see how the state will respond.
