Olusegun Adeyemo
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, has accused the State Treasury Office (STO) of introducing a “crisis-inducing” revised medical salary structure that led to what it described as “unjust and unacceptable” deductions from doctors’ July 2025 salaries.
In a statement on Sunday, NMA Chairman, Dr. Saheed Babajide Kehinde, said the matter remains unresolved despite multiple interventions, including a three-day warning strike by the Medical Guild, the umbrella body for doctors in the state’s public service.
According to the association, the revised pay scale undermines the welfare and professional interests of medical and dental practitioners in government-owned facilities.
The NMA warned that if the deductions are not reversed, doctors in Lagos may embark on an indefinite strike that could cripple public healthcare services.
“It is regrettable that despite all measures to avert disruption in healthcare services, the relevant ministries, departments, and agencies appear indifferent to the Medical Guild’s notice of an impending indefinite strike,” the statement read.
The association urged the Commissioner for Health and all Permanent Secretaries in the sector to protect the “integrity, dignity, security, and welfare” of doctors. It stressed that should the strike go ahead, the leadership of Lagos State’s health sector would bear full responsibility “for failing to ensure the refund of the illegal deductions.”
The NMA also advised members to carefully review their July payslips in light of the STO’s revised salary scale, warning that the policy could fuel the “Japa” trend—the migration of Nigerian health professionals in search of better opportunities abroad.
“Enough of the inaction by members of the medical profession at the helm of Lagos State’s health sector. NMA Lagos remains unwavering in its demand for the return of all unlawfully deducted funds,” the statement concluded.