Medical doctors employed by the Lagos State Government have declared a three-day warning strike over what they described as unjust salary deductions, beginning 8am today (Monday, July 28).
Naijaonpoint reports that the development was announced during a press conference by the Medical Guild of Lagos State held at their secretariat, where the chairman, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, condemned what he termed a “unilateral deduction” from doctors’ wages.
Olugbogi said the dispute began in April 2025, when the Lagos State Government reportedly deducted from the salaries of all medical and dental practitioners without consultation or prior notice.
According to him, the action triggered widespread outrage and was initially reversed after “spirited intervention and strategic engagement” with the government.
This engagement led to the formation of a six-member conciliation committee with equal representation from both the government and the Guild.
“We presented all relevant documents clarifying the calculation of the CONMESS salary scale, and it was agreed that the status quo would be maintained while the government deliberated internally,” Olugbogi said.
The doctors noted that the strike action will last until Thursday, July 31, if their demands are not met.
The Guild chairman, however, lamented that despite the agreements reached, the Lagos State Treasury Office resumed deductions in July, describing the move as a “breach of trust”.
He stated that many members had initially pressed for an immediate strike, but the Guild chose the path of diplomacy and advocacy.
“The July deduction has forced us to take this path. This is not just a breach of agreement, it’s a betrayal,” Olugbogi said.
Naijaonpoint reports that the doctors’ demands include a demand for full payment of 12 months’ revised CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)
The Guild also issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government, warning that failure to meet its demands would result in a full-scale indefinite strike.
Highlighting the financial challenges faced by doctors, Olugbogi revealed, “Let it be known that the most senior doctor in Lagos State employment does not earn up to $1,100.
“And yet, the government, in its wisdom, feels that reducing this meagre income is the best way to motivate the health workforce.”
He called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene and ensure the reversal of what the Guild termed “illegally deducted funds.”
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