Summary:
Medical activities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital are set to grind to a halt this Monday as resident doctors vow to join the nationwide indefinite strike, citing the government’s failure to honor previous agreements regarding welfare and infrastructure.
The healthcare landscape in Lagos is bracing for a significant disruption as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Association of Resident Doctors (LASUTH-ARD) has officially aligned itself with the national directive to down tools. Scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12, this industrial action is a direct response to the Federal Government’s alleged inability to honor the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed late last year.
Dr. Akerele Alaba, the President of LASUTH-ARD, confirmed that the chapter will fully participate in the Total Indefinite and Comprehensive Strike 2.0. This move follows the suspension of an earlier strike in November 2025, which was predicated on a 19-point demand list that the union claims remains largely unaddressed. The campaign, tagged ‘No Implementation, No Going Back’, signals a breakdown in trust between the medical practitioners and the authorities.
According to the union, the strike is a necessary escalation following the Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held earlier this month. The doctors are contending that despite the window of opportunity given to the government, key agreements—including the reinstatement of the FTH Lokoja Five, settlement of salary arrears, and the implementation of the professional allowance table—have been treated with levity.
Beyond the national grievances, the strike action in Lagos is fueled by localized infrastructural and welfare deficits. Dr. Akerele highlighted the frustration regarding the abandoned resident doctors’ quarters project and the exclusion of resident doctors from critical housing and pension schemes. Furthermore, the non-payment of teaching allowances and the December 2025 bonus has further agitated the workforce.
While acknowledging the Lagos State Government’s consistency with the medical residency training fund, the association insists that the current working conditions are unsustainable. Dr. Akerele appealed for public understanding, stating that while the decision is difficult, it is taken to preserve the dignity of the profession and ensure the survival of healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Until the strike begins on Monday, doctors at LASUTH remain at their duty posts.
