The Lagos State Government has appealed to medical doctors to suspend their planned three-day warning strike set to begin today, assuring that discussions and negotiations with the Medical Guild are still in progress.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.
The government emphasized that it is addressing the doctors’ concerns with genuine commitment and a sense of urgency.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Medical Guild, a body representing doctors employed by the Lagos State Government announced a three-day warning strike on July 26.
The Medical Guild announced the planned warning strike during a press conference on Saturday, with the action scheduled to commence on Monday.
In response, the state government acknowledged the issues raised by the guild’s leadership and reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, motivation, and overall productivity of all healthcare workers in Lagos.
“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.
“We urge the medical guild to continue on the path of dialogue while we work to reach a peaceful and just resolution in the interest of all parties, especially the residents who may bear the brunt of any service disruption,” the government said.
The government expressed appreciation to Lagos residents for their patience and understanding, assuring the public that contingency measures have been put in place to reduce the impact of the strike on healthcare services.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Medical Guild Chairman, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, stated during a press conference at the guild’s secretariat in Lagos that the strike was prompted by repeated unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue.
He explained that the dispute began in April when the state 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.”
NAN reports that the doctors listed key demands, including the immediate reversal of the July deductions and the full payment of the 12-month revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
NAN
