Lagos Doctors Warn of Strike Over Unpaid Salaries and Deductions

Lagos, Nigeria — August 25th 2025

Doctors working in public hospitals across Lagos State are threatening to go on strike following ongoing issues with unpaid wages and unexplained salary deductions. The warning comes from the Medical Guild, the association representing doctors under the state government’s employment.

In a recent press briefing, the Guild expressed deep frustration over months of incomplete payments, saying many doctors are struggling to meet basic personal and family needs. “We are not asking for special treatment—we just want what we have worked for,” one doctor said anonymously.

The Guild noted that in addition to delayed wages, some doctors have experienced random deductions from their monthly salaries without explanation. Repeated appeals to the Lagos State Government have reportedly gone unanswered or unresolved.

If the issues remain unaddressed, doctors say a strike may be the only remaining option. Such a move would significantly affect healthcare delivery in public hospitals, especially at a time when access to affordable medical care remains a challenge for many Lagos residents.

Health workers are the backbone of the system, and when they’re not treated fairly, it creates a ripple effect—patients suffer, systems break down, and public trust weakens.

Analysts say this situation speaks to a broader problem in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, where underfunding, poor working conditions, and administrative lapses continue to drive strikes and brain drain.

The Medical Guild has given the state government a deadline to act. As that date approaches, residents are hoping for a peaceful resolution—one that keeps hospitals open and ensures doctors are paid for their vital work.