Medical doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government have warned that they will embark on an indefinite strike if the state fails to reverse deductions from their July salaries and address lingering welfare concerns.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, Dr. Saheed Babajide Kehinde, issued the warning in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday.
Kehinde said the deductions, carried out under the revised medical salary scale by the State Treasury Office, were unjust, insensitive, and detrimental to the welfare of doctors.
“To deduct from our salaries, which are already grossly inadequate, is insensitive and an act of wickedness on the part of the government. It is totally unacceptable to us,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that, despite efforts to prevent disruption in healthcare delivery — including a recent three-day warning strike — concerned ministries and agencies appeared unbothered by the Medical Guild’s notice of indefinite industrial action.
The NMA chairman urged the Commissioner for Health and permanent secretaries in the state’s health sector to safeguard the integrity, welfare, and security of medical and dental practitioners in public service.
Kehinde noted that while the NMA national body had issued a 21-day strike ultimatum over welfare issues affecting government-employed doctors nationwide, the Lagos chapter’s own ultimatum — also spanning 21 days — would expire on August 26.
“If the Medical Guild and NMA Lagos State embark on an indefinite strike, the state government will be held responsible for failing to reverse the illegal deductions from our July salaries and for refusing to halt such deductions in the future,” he warned.
He further stressed that the deductions come at a time when doctors’ salaries are already inadequate, warning that continued poor remuneration and working conditions would worsen the ongoing brain drain in the health sector.
“The government should stop toying with the health sector and instead give it utmost priority,” he added.
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