Resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, have embarked on an indefinite strike over poor welfare conditions, including inadequate residential accommodation, delayed payment of salaries for newly employed doctors and the withdrawal of call duty meals.
The industrial action, which commenced at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, followed what the doctors described as unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue with the hospital’s management.
The President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH chapter, Dr Omogbolahan Adenuga, said the strike became inevitable after repeated appeals failed to produce meaningful action.
According to him, one of the association’s major grievances is the prolonged renovation of the hospital’s doctors’ residential quarters, which has remained inaccessible for about 18 months due to funding constraints.
He said the delay has forced many resident doctors to sleep in hospital lounges and inside their vehicles while providing essential healthcare services.
“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,” Adenuga said.
He noted that many doctors commute daily from distant parts of Lagos, including Badagry and Ikorodu, making it difficult to resume work early and remain productive during demanding clinical duties.
The association also decried delays in enrolling newly recruited doctors on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), leaving some doctors employed in April without salaries.
Another major demand is the restoration of call duty meals for doctors working overnight shifts.
Adenuga said discussions with the hospital management indicated that inadequate funding was responsible for the unresolved welfare issues and delayed renovation project.
He appealed to the Federal Government to increase funding to LUTH or allow the hospital greater access to its internally generated revenue to address staff welfare concerns.
The doctors also called on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent prolonged disruption of healthcare services.
The strike is expected to continue until concrete steps are taken to address the doctors’ demands.
The latest action follows a series of industrial disputes by resident doctors nationwide over salaries, welfare, manpower shortages, hospital infrastructure and implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government.
