Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) have commenced a three-day warning strike over unresolved welfare concerns and delayed implementation of agreed benefits, raising fresh concerns about disruption to healthcare services in the state-owned tertiary hospital.
The industrial action, which began on Monday night, June 15, 2026, follows resolutions reached at the 19th Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH branch (LASUTH-ARD), held between June 5 and June 13, 2026.
In a statement signed by the association’s president, Dr. Alaba Gabriel Akerele, the doctors said repeated engagements with the Lagos State Government had failed to produce meaningful action on long-standing demands.
According to the association, the strike became necessary after multiple ultimatums issued to authorities were allegedly ignored.
Key grievances raised by the doctors
The resident doctors listed several unresolved issues contributing to the industrial action. These include:
- Delay in salary adjustments following federal remuneration reviews for doctors in teaching hospitals
- Stalled construction of the LASUTH resident doctors’ quarters despite prior assurances
- Non-payment of advancement and promotion arrears owed since the previous year
- Delays in implementing revised professional allowances for doctors and specialist allowances for Senior Registrar I officers
- Non-payment of teaching allowances for registrars and house officers
- Delayed disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)
The association described these issues as persistent and damaging to morale among medical personnel working under demanding clinical conditions.
Warning of possible escalation
LASUTH-ARD warned that the current warning strike may be extended if the Lagos State Government fails to meet its demands within the strike period or shortly afterward.
“Failure of the Lagos State Government to meet all our demands during this warning strike or a few days after may lead to further action by the congress,” the statement noted.
The association also aligned its position with the national body of resident doctors, expressing dissatisfaction with the slow implementation of agreements under the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining framework.
Safety concerns in hospitals
Beyond welfare issues, the doctors also raised alarm over increasing cases of harassment, intimidation, and physical assaults against healthcare workers within LASUTH and other health facilities across Lagos State.
They called for stronger protective measures to safeguard medical personnel in the course of duty.
Demands to government
At the end of its deliberations, the association demanded:
- Immediate resumption of construction of doctors’ quarters at LASUTH
- Payment of outstanding advancement and promotion arrears
- Implementation of revised professional allowances
- Payment of specialist allowances for eligible senior registrars
- Prompt release of the 2026 MRTF
- Payment of teaching allowances for registrars and house officers
Impact on healthcare services
The warning strike is expected to reduce routine clinical services at LASUTH during the three-day period, although emergency services are typically maintained in similar industrial actions.
Healthcare stakeholders are closely watching for possible negotiations between the Lagos State Government and the doctors’ association to prevent escalation into a full-scale strike,
