Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, has warned that it will embark on a solidarity strike to support the Medical Guild if the Lagos State Government fails to refund July 2025 deductions and ensure full payment of August salaries by August 25.
 
The decision followed an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of the association, where the group deliberated on the Medical Guild’s 21-day ultimatum to the state government, the non-provision of call duty meals, and the non-payment of skipping arrears to doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
 
According to the communiqué signed by the Chairman, Dr Saheed Kehinde, the association declared that if the government remained unyielding, NMA Lagos would embark on a solidarity strike two weeks after the Medical Guild begins its action.
 
The association observed that the salary deductions in question were first made by the Lagos State Government on April 23, 2025, but were refunded after protests. However, a repeat deduction on July 23, 2025, triggered a three-day warning strike by the Medical Guild from July 28 to 30, after which doctors’ salaries were yet to be refunded. Consequently, the Medical Guild issued a 21-day ultimatum, which expires on August 25, 2025.
 
On welfare matters, the association condemned the management of LUTH for failing to provide call duty meals to doctors for over five years. It noted that during a meeting with the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, in February 2025.

The CMD insisted on introducing a paid canteen system instead of free meals for doctors on call. NMA Lagos rejected the proposal, insisting that call meals must be provided at zero cost.
 
Another issue that was raised was skipping arrears. The association noted that doctors in LUTH had repeatedly complained about non-payment, despite the fact that the arrears had been settled in other federal health institutions. However, the matter had yet to be resolved for doctors at LUTH. NMA Lagos emphasized that workers deserved their wages regardless of when arrears were incurred and vowed not to relent until justice was served.
 
The association called on the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, to urgently engage the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to ensure the immediate refund of July deductions, full payment of August salaries, and a permanent end to such “obnoxious and crisis-prone” deductions.