The Lagos State government is appealing to public medical doctors to suspend their planned three-day warning strike, which is scheduled to commence on Monday, July 28.
The government stated that active negotiations and engagements with the Medical Guild, the association representing the doctors, were ongoing.
In a statement released by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the government assured the public that the doctors' grievances were being reviewed with "utmost sincerity and urgency."
At a press conference held on Saturday, the Medical Guild declared that it would embark on a warning strike beginning this Monday, citing a series of unaddressed issues, including salary deductions.
The state government acknowledged the concerns, emphasizing its commitment to the welfare, motivation, and productivity of all healthcare workers in Lagos State, a city with over 20 million residents.
A conciliation committee, comprising representatives from both the Medical Guild and the government, was previously established to resolve outstanding issues.
"Meetings have been held, and documents submitted by the guild are being carefully reviewed in line with existing policies and fiscal regulations," the government stated.
"As a responsible government, we value the critical role our healthcare professionals play in delivering quality and timely health services. We urge the Medical Guild to continue on the path of dialogue, while we work to reach a peaceful and just resolution in the interest of all parties, especially the residents who may bear the brunt of any service disruption."
Key demands from the doctors include the immediate reversal of the July salary deductions and the full payment of 12 months' worth of revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
