Lagos Doctors Warn Of Potential Strike Over Unpaid Allowances

The Medical Guild in Lagos State has issued a warning to the state government, demanding the payment of the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) allowance, which serves as a living wage for doctors.

Naija News reports that the guild has cautioned that failure to meet their demands could lead to a major crisis.

Representing doctors employed by the Lagos State government, the Medical Guild emphasized the urgency of their demands in a statement released on Wednesday by their Chairman, Dr. Moruf Abdulsalam.

He noted that while federal doctors and those in states such as Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Katsina have already received the updated CONMESS allowance with arrears from July 2023, Lagos doctors are still waiting.

“The non-payment of the reviewed CONMESS allowance has already been implemented for our federal colleagues and in the states of Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Katsina. This has worsened the salary parity between doctors in Lagos State and aggravated the already dire emigration of doctors to federal employment and out of the country.

“Moreover, the current economic starvation and stagflation in the country are biting harder on doctors too,” he said.

The guild also highlighted issues related to the demotion of specialist consultants due to incorrect entry-level assignments, which have resulted in reduced income, diminished morale, and decreased interest from potential specialists in joining the state health service.

“We urge the employment of Medical Officers at grade level 12/2 and consultants at grade level 15/4, in line with national standards.

“Additionally, we call for the immediate restoration and payment of contributory pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions for our resident doctors, as mandated by the Pension Reform Act of 2014.

“We also seek the full implementation of the September 2023 Medical Guild position paper, which the Lagos State government has agreed to,” Abdulsalam added.

He appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take swift action to prevent an impending crisis in the healthcare sector by implementing these proposed measures.

“In the build-up to the disputed issues with the government, we would like to place on record that we have and continue to employ all manners of advocacy and constructive persuasion, to avert this looming crisis.

“The government is yet to bulge. In the coming days, we shall call on the Association’s Congress to determine the next line of action, ” Abdulsalam concluded.