Lagos Appeals to Doctors: Postpone Strike, Prioritize Dialogue

Lagos – July 28, 2025

The Lagos State Government is urging medical doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Chapter, to suspend a planned three-day warning strike, citing the impact such industrial action could have on healthcare delivery for millions of residents.

The strike, set to begin later this week, is in protest of what the doctors describe as persistent issues including unpaid salaries, inadequate working conditions, poor welfare packages, and delayed promotions. According to the NMA, multiple attempts to engage state health authorities have yielded limited results, prompting the decision to escalate.

Reacting to the announcement, the Lagos State Ministry of Health appealed to the doctors to embrace continued dialogue rather than disruption. Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, acknowledged the concerns raised but warned that withdrawing services, even temporarily, could jeopardize public health—particularly for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses.

“We respect the right of our doctors to express their grievances,” said Abayomi, “but we plead for a collaborative path that does not put lives at risk.”

The planned strike comes at a time when Nigeria’s healthcare system is under immense pressure due to the brain drain of medical professionals, underfunding, and overcrowded public hospitals. Lagos, the most populous state, feels this strain more acutely.

Health policy experts stress the need for systemic reform. “These strikes are symptoms of deeper issues,” said Dr. Chioma Eze of the Health Rights Advocacy Network. “While strikes are painful, they are often a last resort in a system where frontline workers feel unheard.”

If the strike proceeds, services in public hospitals may be scaled down, affecting outpatient visits, surgeries, and emergency care. Patients have been advised to seek alternatives or reschedule non-urgent visits, though this places added strain on private facilities and poorer residents who may not afford private care.

Civic groups and patient advocates are calling for an inclusive roundtable between government officials, medical unions, and civil society to forge sustainable solutions.

As negotiations continue behind closed doors, Lagosian wait anxiously, hoping that both sides will prioritize life over standoffs.