The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Chapter, that salaries of medical and dental doctors were deliberately reduced or deducted.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, clarified that the observed discrepancies in salary payments were the result of administrative adjustments designed to align remuneration with actual entitlements under a more transparent structure.
“At no point did the State Government deliberately reduce or deduct salaries. What was observed was part of an internal process to ensure that doctors receive exactly what is due to them, based on agreed terms. All affected doctors have now been fully refunded,” Ayantayo stated.
He further assured that moving forward, the salaries of medical and dental doctors will reflect the final agreement reached between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild, adding that the development would bring clarity, stability, and fairness to the payment structure.
The Commissioner also noted that medical and dental doctors in Lagos remain the highest paid in Nigeria’s public healthcare system, highlighting that the government has exceeded Guild demands in certain areas, including:
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Timely and consistent payment of salaries
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Continued investment in healthcare infrastructure
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Capacity-building initiatives for medical personnel
Ayantayo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of all public servants, especially frontline healthcare workers, stressing that the administration values its ongoing partnership with professional bodies.
The Lagos State Government, however, cautioned the NMA against issuing public statements that could mislead or raise unnecessary concern among health workers and the general public. Instead, it urged stakeholders to pursue constructive dialogue as the best path to resolving issues in the health sector.
This clarification helps to defuse tensions between the government and medical professionals, but it also highlights persistent concerns around trust and communication in the health sector. Frequent disputes over salaries and welfare can create an atmosphere of uncertainty, potentially affecting service delivery and contributing to the brain drain of medical professionals out of the country.
By insisting that doctors in Lagos remain the best compensated in Nigeria, the government seeks to reassure both health workers and the public of its commitment. However, unresolved grievances could still resurface if payment structures lack transparency or if bureaucratic delays persist.
This episode also underscores the urgent need for a reliable, automated salary and welfare system that eliminates disputes and guarantees fairness. Such reforms would help strengthen morale among doctors and improve patient care across Lagos hospitals.
Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, expect that this development will not disrupt healthcare services at public hospitals. Patients and civil society groups are likely to demand greater accountability and transparency from both government and medical associations to prevent salary disputes from escalating into strikes.
The public will also expect both parties—the Lagos State Government and the NMA—to prioritize constructive engagement over confrontation, ensuring that doctors remain focused on delivering critical healthcare services rather than battling administrative hurdles.
Ultimately, the society looks forward to a stable, well-motivated healthcare workforce, capable of tackling pressing health challenges while retaining skilled professionals within Nigeria rather than losing them to opportunities abroad.
Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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