Healthcare services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) remained disrupted on Monday as the institution’s Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) continued its strike over unresolved welfare concerns.
The industrial action, which entered its eighth day, followed a directive from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) after negotiations with the hospital management failed to produce an agreement.
Addressing journalists on Monday, the ARD insisted that the strike would continue until two key demands are met: the completion of the long-delayed Resident Doctors’ Quarters and the restoration of call duty meals for doctors on emergency shifts.
According to the association, the renovation of the doctors’ residential quarters has remained unfinished for more than 18 months, leaving resident doctors without accommodation within the hospital premises.
The union said the prolonged delay has created serious welfare and safety concerns, forcing many doctors who travel long distances across Lagos to spend the night in their vehicles, hospital lounges and other unsuitable locations after working extended shifts.
The doctors explained that resident doctors frequently undertake continuous duties lasting more than 24 hours while attending to emergency cases and critically ill patients.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the association said the absence of functional accommodation has taken a toll on the well-being of its members and appealed to the Federal Government to urgently release the funds required for the hospital’s Chief Medical Director to complete the renovation project.
“The prolonged delay has significantly affected the welfare, safety and well-being of doctors,” the association stated.
The ARD also accused the hospital management of withdrawing call duty meals, describing the development as another major welfare challenge affecting doctors on prolonged emergency duty.
The association argued that doctors assigned to continuous shifts cannot abandon patients to source food, stressing that the provision of meals during call duty is a recognised welfare entitlement essential for uninterrupted and safe healthcare delivery.
It noted that similar arrangements are already in place in several federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria and insisted that LUTH should not be treated differently.
The resident doctors called on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, and other stakeholders to intervene urgently to resolve the dispute.
They warned that healthcare services at the hospital would continue to suffer unless immediate steps are taken to address their welfare concerns and improve their working conditions.
“Our desire has always been to remain at the bedside caring for our patients,” the association said.
“However, quality healthcare cannot be sustained when the welfare and basic working conditions of healthcare workers are neglected.”
Despite the ongoing industrial action, the ARD said it remains open to constructive engagement with the authorities and expressed hope that the dispute would be resolved without further delay.
