The Lagos State Government has appealed to medical doctors to shelve their planned three-day warning strike scheduled to begin today, stating that negotiations with the Medical Guild are still ongoing.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
The government assured that the grievances raised by the doctors were being addressed with urgency and sincerity.
StarReporters reports that the Medical Guild, which represents doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, declared the warning strike on July 26, with the action set to begin on Monday. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Saturday.
The state government acknowledged the concerns raised by the Guild’s leadership and stressed its commitment to the welfare, motivation, and productivity of all healthcare workers in the state.
“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 also commended Lagos residents for their patience and understanding, adding that contingency plans were in place to reduce disruptions to healthcare services during the strike period.
At a news conference held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, Chairman Japhet Olugbogi said the strike followed repeated failed attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue.
He explained that the dispute began in April when the state government unilaterally deducted a portion of doctors’ salaries.
Although those deductions were later reversed after “spirited intervention and strategic engagement,” Olugbogi noted that a fresh round of deductions was implemented in July “this time without prior notice or explanation.”
The doctors also outlined key demands, including the immediate reversal of the July deductions and full payment of the 12-month revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
(NAN)