Resident doctors in Lagos State have fully complied with the five-day warning strike declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), bringing healthcare services to a grinding halt in major federal hospitals.
The strike, which began on Friday, September 12, 2025, is in response to the Federal Government’s failure to address long-standing demands, including the release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund and payment of five months’ arrears arising from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
A visit to hospitals such as the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, revealed total compliance, with resident doctors absent from work. This industrial action coincides with similar strikes in Abuja and Oyo State, underscoring the nationwide dimension of the doctors’ grievances.
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors at LUTH, Dr. Benjamin Uyi, urged the Federal Government to address the demands before the strike ends, emphasizing that doctors’ welfare is crucial for effective healthcare delivery. “Any doctor whose welfare is not met is already a risk to patients,” Uyi said, highlighting the need for balanced physical, mental, and psychosocial needs for optimal performance.
Dr. Babatunde Egberongbe, President of the Association of Resident Doctors at NOHIL, described the strike as “unfortunate” and lamented the government’s consistent neglect of doctors’ welfare. Egberongbe noted that poor working conditions are driving many Nigerian health workers abroad, stressing that urgent action is needed to address the doctors’ demands.
The resident doctors are seeking resolution on issues critical to their welfare and the healthcare system. With hospitals already facing a shortage of medical professionals, the government is under pressure to prioritize addressing the doctors’ demands to prevent further disruptions in healthcare services.