LASUTH doctors begin indefinite strike over unpaid allowances

… Demand 25 months’ professional allowance arrears, others
By Chioma Obinna

Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, have declared an indefinite strike over unpaid specialist allowance, salary and advancement arrears, as well as 25 months’ arrears of the revised Professional Allowance Table, PAT.
The industrial action, declared by the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, ARD, is scheduled to commence from 8am on Friday, September 11, 2026, following what the doctors described as the failure of the Lagos State Government to resolve outstanding welfare issues.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s emergency congress held virtually on September 9 and signed by its President, Dr Alaba Gabriel Akerele, and General Secretary, Dr Hamzat Omotoyosi Bakre.
The doctors said while they appreciated the state government for paying the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, and implementing the revised professional allowance table, several critical issues remained unresolved.
A major point of contention is the non-payment of specialist allowance to Grade Level 14 resident doctors, particularly Senior Registrars 1.
The association said the government had previously agreed to align the payment with the Federal Government’s implementation for doctors in federal institutions.
The doctors said: “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.”
The association also accused the government of failing to pay salary and advancement arrears owed some of its members since last year, despite acknowledging the outstanding payments.
According to the doctors, the government had attributed the delay to “procedural and systemic” issues.
The association further alleged “irregularities and discrepancies” in the payment of the revised provisional allowance to its members.
It also faulted the delay in fully implementing the revised Professional Allowance Table, which it said became effective from July 1, 2024.
Consequently, the congress demanded 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 also demanded a detailed breakdown of all salary components currently being used by the Lagos State Government to pay their salaries.
The association warned that the strike would continue indefinitely until the outstanding demands were addressed.
The action could further strain services at LASUTH, one of Lagos State’s major tertiary healthcare institutions, if the dispute remains unresolved.
The doctors also acknowledged interventions and support from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 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.
They 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.
However, the association maintained that despite the interventions, the unresolved welfare issues had left its members with no option but to withdraw their services.
They said the industrial action was intended to compel the state government to address the outstanding issues and fulfil its commitments to resident doctors.