Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, have commenced an indefinite strike over outstanding specialist allowances, salary and advancement arrears, as well as 25 months of unpaid arrears from the revised Professional Allowance Table, PAT.
The industrial action was announced by the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, and began at 8am on Friday, September 11, 2026.
The decision followed an emergency congress held virtually on September 9 and was contained in a communiqué signed by the association’s President, Dr Alaba Gabriel Akerele, and General Secretary, Dr Hamzat Omotoyosi Bakre.
The doctors acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, and the implementation of the revised professional allowance table.
However, they said several outstanding welfare matters had yet to be resolved.
One of the major issues is the unpaid specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 resident doctors, particularly Senior Registrars 1.
According to the association, the state government had previously agreed to implement the allowance in line with the Federal Government’s payment arrangement for doctors working in federal institutions.
The doctors also accused the government of failing to settle salary and advancement arrears owed to some members since last year, despite acknowledging the outstanding payments.
They said the government had attributed the delay to procedural and systemic challenges.
The association further raised concerns over what it described as irregularities and discrepancies in the payment of the revised provisional allowance to some members.
It also criticised the incomplete implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, which took effect from July 1, 2024.
Doctors list demands
The resident doctors are demanding the immediate payment of the specialist allowance to Grade Level 14 resident doctors.
They are also seeking settlement of outstanding salary and advancement arrears, as well as payment of 25 months of arrears arising from the revised Professional Allowance Table.
In addition, the association wants the Lagos State Government to provide a detailed breakdown of the salary components currently being used to calculate and pay their wages.
The doctors said the strike would remain in place indefinitely until the outstanding issues are resolved.
The industrial action could put additional pressure on medical services at LASUTH, one of Lagos State’s major tertiary healthcare facilities, if the dispute continues.
Doctors acknowledge government interventions
The association recognised the interventions and support of several state officials, including 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, Professor Akin Abayomi, and Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantola.
The doctors also acknowledged the contributions of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Health and Establishments and Training, LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, hospital management, the Medical Guild, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and former leaders of LASUTH-ARD.
Despite these interventions, the association said the unresolved welfare concerns had forced its members to withdraw their services.
It said the strike was aimed at compelling the Lagos State Government to resolve the outstanding issues and honour its commitments to resident doctors.
Source: Vanguard
