Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) have withdrawn their services indefinitely, saying months of unpaid allowances and salary arrears have left them with no choice.
The industrial action by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LASUTH, began at 8am on Friday, September 11, 2026. The doctors say the strike will continue until the Lagos State Government addresses outstanding welfare issues affecting hospital workers.
The decision was reached at an emergency virtual congress on September 9, according to a communiqué signed by ARD President, Dr Alaba Gabriel Akerele, and General Secretary, Dr Hamzat Omotoyosi Bakre.
For the doctors, the central issue is pay and allowances owed to them. They listed three main demands: immediate payment of specialist allowance to Grade Level 14 resident doctors, settlement of salary and advancement arrears, and payment of 25 months’ arrears of the revised Professional Allowance Table.
“The Congress observed with great worry the persistent delay and failure of Lagos State Government to fulfil its promise and agreement to pay Specialist Allowance to Grade Level 14 resident doctors (Senior Registrars 1) in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,” the communiqué stated.
The association said the government had earlier agreed to align the specialist allowance with what is paid to doctors in federal institutions, but the payment has not been made.
They also said some members are still being owed salary and advancement arrears since last year.
According to the doctors, officials blamed the delay on “procedural and systemic” issues.
Other concerns raised by the workers include “irregularities and discrepancies” in how the revised provisional allowance was paid, and delays in fully rolling out the revised Professional Allowance Table, which took effect from July 1, 2024.
The doctors are also asking for a detailed breakdown of all salary components currently used by the state to pay them.
The association noted that while the state paid the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and began implementing the revised allowance table, critical worker welfare issues remain unresolved.
They acknowledged support from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Head of Service Bode Agoro, Accountant-General Muyiwa John Adetola, Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, and Commissioner for Establishments and Training Afolabi Ayantola, among others.
“However, the association maintained that despite the interventions, the unresolved welfare issues had left its members with no option but to withdraw their services.”
The doctors said the indefinite action is aimed at compelling the government to meet its commitments to resident doctors at LASUTH.
