LASUTH DOCTORS’ STRIKE MAY TRIGGER WIDER HEALTHCARE CRISIS, NMA WARNS
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By; Ganiyat Sunmola
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, has warned that the ongoing strike by resident doctors at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) could trigger broader disruptions across the healthcare sector if urgent measures are not taken to address their concerns.
The warning follows the commencement of a three-day warning strike by the resident doctors over what they described as the failure of the government and relevant authorities to resolve longstanding welfare issues affecting medical personnel at the hospital.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Ewonowo Sunday, expressed concern over the industrial action, describing the situation as one that could have been avoided through timely intervention by stakeholders.
“We view this development with deep concern. Regrettably, this crisis was avoidable if all concerned stakeholders had acted more proactively and responded adequately to the legitimate concerns raised by the resident doctors,” the statement read.
While noting that industrial action is often considered a last resort, the association said it becomes unavoidable when repeated dialogue and engagement fail to yield meaningful outcomes.
According to the NMA, the grievances of the resident doctors include delays in implementing revised professional allowances, unpaid promotion and advancement arrears, and inadequate welfare provisions for doctors undergoing residency training.
The association listed several demands that led to the warning strike, including the immediate commencement and timely completion of the proposed Resident Doctors’ Quarters and Residency Training Centre at LASUTH, implementation of the revised Professional Allowance for doctors in Lagos State, payment of specialist allowances to eligible Senior Registrar I doctors, and settlement of all outstanding promotion and advancement arrears.
Other demands include the approval and disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to qualified resident doctors, as well as improved security measures to protect healthcare workers, patients, and medical facilities across LASUTH and Lagos State.
The NMA stressed that these concerns are longstanding issues that require urgent attention to prevent a further decline in morale among healthcare professionals.
The association also noted that the situation in Lagos mirrors a wider national trend, with resident doctors in several parts of the country issuing ultimatums over unresolved welfare and working-condition concerns.
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