The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned it will embark on an indefinite strike if the state government fails to pay doctors’ withheld salaries by 25 August 2025.
The threat comes in solidarity with the Medical Guild, which earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum demanding a refund of unauthorised deductions from doctors’ July salaries and full payment of August wages.
In a communiqué released after an emergency general meeting at the weekend, the NMA said it would join the strike two weeks after the Medical Guild commences industrial action if the government remains unresponsive.
“If by 25 August the government fails to refund the July 2025 deductions and ensure full payment of August salaries, the Medical Guild will commence an indefinite strike—and NMA Lagos will not stand aside,” the communiqué stated.
Describing the persistent tampering with doctors’ earnings as “unacceptable and an affront to the medical profession”, the association warned that a prolonged dispute could cripple healthcare services across the state.
“We are not threatening for the sake of it. But if these issues are not resolved, we will stand firmly with the Medical Guild and ensure our members are no longer treated with disdain,” the statement read.
Beyond salary concerns, the association also raised fresh issues about the welfare of doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), insisting that free call meals must be provided for those on duty.
“The welfare of those who keep the health system running is not negotiable. The delay is unnecessary. Workers deserve their wages regardless of when the arrears were incurred,” the communiqué added.
The association urged Lagos Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, to intervene swiftly, stressing that the matter requires not only a bureaucratic response but also political will.
“The Commissioner must act with urgency. This situation demands not just a bureaucratic response, but political will to protect the integrity of the health workforce in Lagos,” the doctors said.
