The Lagos State Government has urged members of the Medical Guild to suspend their planned three-day warning strike scheduled to begin today (Monday), assuring that their grievances are being addressed with sincerity and urgency.
This appeal was made in a statement issued by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
The Medical Guild, which represents doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, had announced the strike on Saturday during a press conference, citing unresolved issues with the state government. The industrial action is expected to last three days.
According to the government, negotiations and engagements with the Medical Guild are ongoing, and efforts are being made to resolve all outstanding concerns. It confirmed that a conciliation committee—comprising representatives from both the state government and the Medical Guild—had already been established to address the issues.
“Meetings have been held, and documents submitted by the Guild are being carefully reviewed in line with existing policies and fiscal regulations,” the statement noted.
The government acknowledged the concerns raised by the doctors, especially on matters related to welfare and motivation, and emphasized its commitment to the wellbeing and productivity of healthcare workers across the state.
“As a responsible government, we value the critical role our healthcare professionals play in delivering quality and timely health services to the over 20 million residents of Lagos State,” the statement read.
“We urge the Medical Guild to remain committed to dialogue as we work toward a peaceful and fair resolution—one that serves the interest of all parties, particularly the general public who could be affected by any disruption in healthcare services.”
In light of the impending strike, the government also assured Lagosians that contingency measures have been put in place to minimize the impact on public healthcare delivery during the period.
Meanwhile, at the press briefing held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, the association’s Chairman, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, said the strike action followed repeated failed attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue.
He explained that the conflict began in April when the government unilaterally deducted portions of doctors’ salaries. Although those deductions were later reversed after what he described as “spirited intervention and strategic engagement,” another round of deductions occurred in July—this time without prior notice or explanation.
Among the key demands listed by the Medical Guild are:
- Immediate reversal of the July salary deductions.
- Full payment of the 12-month revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Guild maintains that its members remain committed to delivering quality healthcare but insists that their welfare must not be compromised.
