… Says No Deliberate Reduction Took Place
The Lagos State Government has stated that there was no deliberate reduction or deduction in the salaries of medical and dental doctors, as recently claimed by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, explained that the brief discrepancies in payments were due to administrative adjustments aimed at aligning salaries with the actual entitlements of medical and dental doctors under a more transparent and accurate remuneration 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,” the Commissioner said.
He further stated that moving forward, the salaries medical and dental doctors receive will reflect the final agreement between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild. This, he emphasised, brings clarity and stability to the payment structure and ensures that doctors continue to enjoy competitive compensation.
Mr. Ayantayo also reaffirmed that medical and dental doctors in Lagos remain the highest paid in Nigeria’s public healthcare system, and the government has gone beyond the Guild’s demands in certain areas, including timely and consistent payment of salaries; continued investment in health sector infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives.
The Lagos State Government reiterates its commitment to the welfare of all public servants, particularly healthcare professionals who serve on the frontlines. The government values its relationship with professional associations and remains open to continued dialogue.
The State urges the NMA and other stakeholders to focus on constructive engagement, rather than public statements that may mislead or cause concern among health workers and the general public.