LASUTH DOCTORS DEMAND SPECIALIST ALLOWANCE, SALARY ARREARS

Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, have given the Lagos State Government a seven-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues involving specialist allowances and salary arrears.

The Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, said the demands include the immediate implementation and payment of the specialist allowance for Grade Level 14 resident doctors, also known as Senior Registrar 1.

The association also demanded payment of arrears of the specialist allowance and outstanding salary and advancement arrears owed to affected members.

The LASUTH-ARD President, Dr Akerele Alaba, issued the ultimatum during a press briefing in Lagos, warning that failure to address the issues within seven days could lead to further industrial action.

The doctors had earlier embarked on a three-day warning strike in June over welfare concerns, including delays in implementing the Professional Allowance Table, unpaid advancement arrears and the specialist allowance for eligible senior registrars.

According to the association, several meetings were subsequently held with Lagos State Government officials, during which assurances were given that the specialist allowance would be incorporated into the Professional Allowance Table.

The doctors said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the implementation of the allowance table for resident doctors and other doctors in the state during a meeting on July 17.

However, the association said members were disappointed to discover that the specialist allowance was not included in the approved table or reflected in the August salaries of affected doctors.

Alaba said the allowance had been paid to resident doctors in federal institutions since February 2026, while states including Osun, Delta and Enugu had also implemented the payment.

The association also rejected the position that payment of arrears required fresh approval from the governor, arguing that the affected doctors had already earned their promotions and were entitled to the corresponding salary adjustments.

The doctors appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene and resolve the issues, stressing that the disputes were affecting their welfare and could have implications for healthcare delivery.

LASUTH-ARD said it remained committed to dialogue but warned that failure to meet its demands within the seven-day period could result in further action.