Doctors
Industrial action by resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) entered its eighth day on Monday, disrupting healthcare services and affecting patients seeking medical attention.
The strike, declared in line with a directive from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), followed unsuccessful efforts to resolve longstanding welfare issues with the hospital’s management.
At a press briefing, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) insisted on two key demands—the completion of the Resident Doctors’ Quarters and the restoration of call duty meals.
The doctors said renovation of their residential quarters has remained unfinished for more than 18 months, forcing many of them to sleep in cars, hospital lounges and other unsuitable places despite reporting for duty.
“This prolonged delay has significantly affected the welfare, safety, and well-being of doctors,” the association said, while urging the Federal Government to release funds needed to complete the project.
The ARD also faulted the withdrawal of call duty meals, arguing that doctors regularly work shifts exceeding 24 hours and cannot leave emergency posts to look for food, adding that “Similar provisions exist in other federal tertiary health institutions across the country, and LUTH should not be an exception.”
The association appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, and other stakeholders to intervene urgently and end the dispute.
“Our desire has always been to remain at the bedside caring for our patients,” the doctors said, stressing that “quality healthcare cannot be sustained when the welfare and basic working conditions of healthcare workers are neglected.”
The ARD maintained that it remains open to dialogue and expressed hope for a quick resolution of the crisis.
The latest strike adds to a long history of industrial actions in Nigeria’s health sector, where repeated disputes over welfare, infrastructure and funding have disrupted medical services, increased pressure on patients, weakened confidence in public hospitals and contributed to the migration of healthcare professionals to other countries.
