The Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital chapter, LASUTH-ARD, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government to implement the specialist allowance for grade level 14 doctors and settle outstanding salary and promotion arrears owed to some of its members.
The doctors warned that failure to address the issues within the stipulated period could prompt further action and heighten the risk of industrial unrest at the teaching hospital.
The latest development follows a three-day warning strike staged by the association in June 2026 over several demands, including the immediate resumption of work on the resident doctors’ quarters within LASUTH, implementation of the Professional Allowance Table (PAT) for doctors employed by the state, payment of the allowance for grade level 14 resident doctors, particularly Senior Registrar 1, and settlement of salary shortfalls and advancement arrears.
Following the industrial action, the association held a series of meetings with representatives of the state government. During the engagements, the doctors were reportedly assured that the specialist allowance for grade level 14 resident doctors would be incorporated into the Professional Allowance Table (PAT), to be forwarded to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for approval.
A major meeting between the doctors and Governor Sanwo-Olu took place on July 17, 2026, during which the governor approved the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table for resident doctors and other medical doctors employed by the Lagos State Government.
However, LASUTH-ARD President, Dr Akerele Alaba Gabriel, said the association was disappointed to discover that the specialist allowance for Senior Registrar 1 had not been included in the approved table.
“It is deeply disappointing that before and after that approval, Lagos State officials led us to believe that the specialist allowance for SR1 had already been incorporated into the Professional Allowance Table (PAT) sent to Mr Governor for approval.
“We have now confirmed that this is not the case, as the August salary paid to our members a few days ago does not reflect the specialist allowance. Verified information from the Lagos State Government also confirmed that it was not captured in the PAT approved by Mr Governor,” Gabriel said.
He said the allowance was already being paid to doctors in federal institutions and in some states, including Osun, Delta and Enugu.
According to him, resident doctors in federal institutions were also expected to begin receiving 19 months of outstanding arrears in August.
“This is an act of deceit and a breach of trust. The specialist allowance for SR1 remains unpaid,” the LASUTH-ARD president said.
Gabriel also faulted the state government’s position that salary and advancement arrears could not be paid without the express approval of the governor.
He insisted that the affected doctors were owed salary shortfalls and promotion-related arrears that should be settled.
“We need to state categorically that this is a shortfall in salary for some of our members, and it needs to be paid.
“We remain open to dialogue but will not compromise on the welfare of our members. We appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to personally intervene and ensure the matter is resolved in the interest of fairness, equity and quality healthcare delivery in Lagos State,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns over the possibility of the dispute escalating into another industrial action at LASUTH.
The association warned that a prolonged disagreement could have wider implications for healthcare delivery if the issues were not urgently resolved.
A patient at LASUTH, Omolara Ojo, also appealed to the government to address the doctors’ concerns to prevent another disruption of medical services.
“If they are entitled to something, I think the government should respond on time,” she said.
Ojo noted that patients often bear the consequences whenever doctors down tools over unresolved welfare issues.
“The last time they went on strike, we all knew what we faced. So, the government should attend to them and resolve these issues once and for all,” she added.
