The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has rejected the demand by its striking resident doctors for free meals during call hours and night duty, stating that the request is not provided for under the Federal Government-approved conditions of service for staff of federal tertiary health institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday under the authority of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, the hospital said the ongoing industrial action by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH Chapter, is based on demands that management lacks both the legal authority and financial capacity to implement.
The resident doctors commenced an indefinite strike last Monday, disrupting clinical services at one of Nigeria’s leading referral hospitals. LUTH said it has held two rounds of discussions with the ARD leadership since the strike began, but no resolution has been reached.
According to the management, the provision of free meals for doctors on call or night duty is not part of the Federal Government’s approved conditions of service for resident doctors or any other category of staff in federal tertiary health institutions.
LUTH said its position is also guided by a collective agreement reached about seven years ago between the hospital’s previous management and all recognised labour unions, including the ARD. Under the agreement, the parties agreed that providing free meals to staff on call was neither realistic nor financially sustainable and instead resolved that management should establish a staff cafeteria offering affordable meals.
The hospital argued that granting the resident doctors’ request would violate that agreement and could trigger similar demands from other unions.
According to the statement, extending the benefit exclusively to resident doctors would amount to discrimination against other categories of staff, potentially leading to further industrial disputes and imposing a recurring financial obligation the hospital cannot sustain.
Management noted that some unions had already expressed concerns over the possibility of preferential treatment for a single staff group.
The hospital also highlighted the completion of the staff cafeteria, describing it as the fulfilment of the earlier agreement. It said the facility, commissioned in October 2025, now provides subsidised meals to staff and was officially inaugurated in the presence of representatives of the ARD and other unions.
LUTH added that it negotiated reduced meal prices with the cafeteria operator and established a monitoring committee to oversee food quality and pricing. Staff working in wards, theatres and laboratories can also request meal deliveries while on duty.
As part of its welfare programme, the management said it provides free meals to staff on six public holidays each year—Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter, Eid-el-Fitr, Eid-el-Kabir and Independence Day. It stressed that the initiative is a voluntary welfare package funded by the hospital rather than a contractual entitlement.
On accommodation, LUTH disclosed that renovation of the residents’ quarters is approximately 60 per cent complete, describing the project as part of its ongoing efforts to improve staff welfare.
The management maintained that the resident doctors are the only union opposed to the current welfare arrangement, noting that other recognised unions have accepted the subsidised cafeteria system and holiday meal programme.
Describing the strike as unfortunate, the hospital said the industrial action is disrupting healthcare services over demands that fall outside approved conditions of service and conflict with an existing collective agreement.
While reaffirming its commitment to staff welfare within available resources and government regulations, LUTH appealed to the resident doctors to suspend the strike and resume negotiations.
The management said it remains open to continued dialogue and urged the doctors to return to work in the interest of patients who rely on the hospital for critical and life-saving medical services.
