Health
LUTH resident doctors embark on indefinite strike over accommodation, unpaid salaries
Resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, have commenced an indefinite strike over poor residential accommodation, delayed salary payments for newly employed doctors, and the withdrawal of call duty meals.
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH chapter, Dr Omogbolahan Adenuga, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise on Monday, stating that the industrial action began at 8am on July 20, 2026, after efforts to resolve the issues failed.
The ARD president stated that the doctors are demanding the immediate completion of the renovation of the hospital’s doctors’ residential quarters, payment of salaries owed to newly employed doctors due to delays in their enrolment on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, and the restoration of call duty meals.
Adenuga said resident doctors have been forced to sleep in their cars and hospital lounges because the residential quarters undergoing renovation have remained inaccessible for about 18 months.
He noted that the prolonged delay in completing the project had worsened the welfare of doctors, many of whom travel long distances to work.
“Doctors are sleeping in their cars and in hospital lounges while treating patients. We need the Federal Government to release funds so the Chief Medical Director can complete the renovation immediately.
“The building has been locked for almost 18 months, but it has not been completed because of lack of funding. We need the government to intervene urgently and give us a timeline for the completion of the project,” he said.
The ARD president added that doctors commute daily from locations as far as Badagry and Ikorodu to the centre, making it difficult to resume early and remain productive during demanding clinical duties.
He also decried the delay in enrolling newly recruited doctors on the IPPIS platform, saying some employed in April had yet to receive salaries.
“Those employed in April have not been captured on IPPIS, so they have not received their salaries from April till now. We are demanding that IPPIS officials immediately capture them so they can be paid,” Adenuga said.
He further called for the restoration of call duty meals, describing them as an established welfare provision for resident doctors working overnight shifts.
“Call duty meals are what doctors eat while on overnight duty. It is an entitlement given to doctors across the country. It is not good for doctors working through the night not to have access to meals,” he stated.
Adenuga said the association had engaged the hospital management before embarking on the strike, but management attributed the unresolved issues to inadequate funding.
The LUTH ARD president said the management explained that the hospital’s allocation was insufficient to address the welfare concerns and execute the renovation project.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to increase funding to the hospital or allow it to utilise more of its internally generated revenue to meet operational needs.
The resident doctors also appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently to avert a prolonged disruption of healthcare services.
Adenuga maintained that the strike would continue until concrete steps were taken to address the doctors’ demands.
“We will negotiate with them, but something must be done before the strike is called off,” the LUTH ARD president said.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid arrears, non-implementation of agreed wages/allowances, poorly equipped health facilities and working conditions, inadequate pay and manpower shortages are major reasons resident doctors have embarked on strike across different states and nationwide.
In May 2019, the ARD in LUTH embarked on a two-day warning strike over doctors’ shortage, unpaid salaries and victimisation of medical doctors.
In 2025, residents doctors nationwide embarked on a two day warning strike and 29 days total and indefinite strike to demand the payment of outstanding salaries and allowance arrears, including unpaid Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, adjustments, payment of accoutrement allowances and promotion and specialist arrears, full implementation of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, reinstatement of five dismissed resident doctors in Lokoja, improved staffing and humane working hours, resolution of certification disputes and urgent upgrades to hospital infrastructure and equipment.
NARD declared a total and indefinite strike on April 7, 2026, and suspended it a day after.
The association further extended the four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government in June 2026 and would review the government’s compliance in their July National Executive Council meeting.
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