Posted on: Thu 31-07-2025

Medical services across major Lagos hospitals, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), were severely disrupted on Monday as doctors began a strike over unresolved salary deductions and welfare concerns.

At LASUTH, the usually busy facility was eerily quiet. Wards and consulting rooms were locked, and patients were nowhere in sight. Staff not involved in the strike carried on with minimal activity. A visit revealed that doctors had completely vacated their duty posts, leaving patients without care.

Mrs. Temilade Ojo, a patient who traveled from Egbeda to collect her test results, expressed her frustration:

“I waited for over an hour only to be told the doctors are on strike. I had to return home disappointed.”

A hospital registrar confirmed the situation, stating, “There’s no work today. Most departments are shut down.”

The impact extended beyond LASUTH. At Isolo General Hospital, only a few doctors were seen attending to patients, while many left after long waits. Igando General Hospital also reported minimal activity, with staff confirming the strike’s reach.

The strike, declared by the Medical Guild—the body representing doctors employed by the Lagos State Government—is a three-day warning action. It was prompted by alleged unilateral salary deductions, poor welfare conditions, and unresolved pay discrepancies.

Despite appeals from the Lagos State Ministry of Health urging doctors to reconsider and allow negotiations to continue, the strike has already taken a toll.

“We acknowledge the concerns and are working urgently to resolve them,” said Dr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs.

Contingency plans have been activated, but on-ground reports suggest they have yet to significantly ease the disruption.

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