The Lagos State Government has appealed to doctors under its employment to suspend a three-day warning strike scheduled to begin today, Monday, July 28, assuring that their grievances are being addressed with “utmost sincerity and urgency.”
In a statement released by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the state said it remains committed to ongoing negotiations with the Medical Guild.
The Medical Guild, which represents doctors working for the Lagos State Government, had announced the warning strike on Saturday, July 26, at a press briefing, citing unresolved salary disputes.
Chairman of the guild, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, told journalists at the guild’s secretariat that the action follows several failed attempts at dialogue. According to him, the conflict began in April when the government made unilateral deductions from doctors’ salaries.
“Although the deductions were later reversed following what he described as ‘spirited intervention and strategic engagement,’ the situation relapsed in July with a fresh round of deductions, this time without prior notice or explanation,” he said.
The doctors are also demanding the reversal of the July salary deductions and the full payment of 12 months of revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
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Responding, the state government acknowledged the concerns raised by the guild and reiterated its commitment to resolving the dispute.
“A conciliation committee comprising representatives from both the Medical Guild and the Government was previously constituted to resolve all outstanding issues.
“Meetings have been held, and documents submitted by the guild are being carefully reviewed in line with existing policies and fiscal regulations.
“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 government said.
It urged the Medical Guild to “continue on the path of dialogue” to avoid further disruption of health services.
Meanwhile, the state has activated contingency plans to cushion the impact of the strike on public healthcare delivery.