Lagos state govt dismiss claims by NMA regarding salary deduction

The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) regarding salary deductions for medical and dental doctors.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, clarified that any minor payment discrepancies were the result of administrative adjustments to better align salaries with the actual entitlements of medical and dental professionals under a more transparent remuneration system.

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“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 also mentioned that future salaries for medical and dental doctors will reflect the final agreement between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild, providing clearer and more stable payment structures to ensure competitive compensation for doctors.

Mr. Ayantayo emphasized that medical and dental doctors in Lagos are the highest paid within Nigeria’s public healthcare system, noting that the government has exceeded some of the Guild’s requests, particularly regarding timely salary payments and investments in healthcare infrastructure and training initiatives.

The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of public servants, especially healthcare workers. The government values its relationship with professional associations and is open to ongoing dialogue.

The State encourages the NMA and other stakeholders to engage constructively instead of making public statements that may mislead or alarm health workers and the public.