Doctors working under the Lagos State Government have declared a three-day warning strike starting Monday, July 28, 2025, over what they described as illegal and unfair deductions from their salaries.
The strike, led by the Medical Guild, will end by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, if the government meets their demands.
At a press conference in Lagos, the Guild’s Chairman, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, said the issue began in April 2025, when the state government deducted money from the salaries of medical and dental officers without any prior notice or agreement.
Dr Olugbogi explained that even though many doctors wanted to begin a strike immediately, the Guild’s leadership decided to try dialogue first. A six-member committee was formed to resolve the matter, and the deductions were initially reversed.
However, in July 2025, the Lagos State Treasury Office made another round of deductions, which the Guild says broke the earlier agreement and forced them to take action.
Key Demands by the Guild:
– Immediate reversal of July salary deductions
– Full payment of 12-month CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital)
The Guild has also given the government a 21-day ultimatum, warning that if their demands are not met, a full and indefinite strike may follow.
Dr Olugbogi raised alarm about the worsening situation in the health sector, stressing that many doctors are leaving the country due to poor pay and working conditions.
“It is shameful that the most senior doctor in Lagos State earns less than \$1,100 monthly,” he said. “Instead of improving their welfare, the government is taking away from their already small income.”
The Guild’s Secretary, Dr Adekunle Akinade, confirmed that over 385 doctors attended the emergency congress where the strike was approved unanimously.
The union is calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to personally intervene to prevent a breakdown of healthcare services in Lagos hospitals.
The Lagos health system, one of the largest in the country, faces increasing pressure due to the ongoing brain drain and rising demand for public medical services.
