Lagos doctors issue 7-day ultimatum over unpaid allowances, salary arrears

Doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) are demanding immediate payment of outstanding allowances and salary arrears, issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government. The Association of Resident Doctors (LASUTH-ARD) warns of further industrial action if their demands are not met, potentially disrupting the state's health sector.

This ultimatum follows a three-day warning strike held by the doctors from June 15 to 17, 2026. Their grievances include the non-completion of resident doctors' quarters, the implementation of a Professional Allowance Table (PAT) for Lagos State-employed doctors, and crucially, the payment of specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 resident doctors, also known as Senior Registrar 1 (SR1). They also seek payment for salary shortfalls and advancement arrears.

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This is an act of deceit and a breach of trust.

LASUTH-ARD stated that previous meetings with government officials, including one with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on July 17, 2026, had resulted in assurances and approval for the implementation of the PAT. However, the doctors discovered that the specialist allowance for SR1 doctors was not included in their August salaries, which they described as an "act of deceit and a breach of trust."

The association also highlighted that resident doctors in federal institutions have received their specialist allowance since February 2026, and several other states, including Osun, Delta, and Enugu, have also implemented such payments. LASUTH-ARD insists that the Lagos State Government must pay the owed salary shortfalls and advancement arrears, arguing that affected doctors have already earned their promotions and are entitled to the corresponding financial benefits.

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We need to state categorically that this is a shortfall in salary for some of our members and needs to be paid.