After making the controversial decision to sack 788 striking doctors, the Lagos state government has indicated interest in having negotiation with the sacked doctors.
Speaking on Tuesday,
the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said that “government is
still available for negotiation.”
“The issue of
negotiation has not been fore-closed; when they are willing, we are willing to
dialogue with them, but our first priority is to restore services to the health
sector,” he said.
“We are still ready to
dialogue with the doctors and even negotiate. We have over time bent and bent
to accommodate their demands. Sacking was not a palatable decision for us to
take.”
Also Speaking on the
employment of new doctors in the state, the Commissioner said it was a last
resolve by the state government since the striking doctors refused to see
reason with them and that the newly employed doctors have resumed work.
“The new doctors we
recruited would have resumed today. Together with the new doctors that we have,
Lagos presently has over 1,000 doctors in its employ and many doctors from all
over Nigeria and the world have signified interest to work with us since this
dispute and recruitment process began.”
“But we tried not to
employ because we were still waiting for them to see reasons with us. We wanted
to prevent it but the doctors were adamant.”
On their part, the
Nigerian Medical Association has said that the sack was totally unacceptable.
The newly elected National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, and a
Consultant Family Physician, Dr. Osahon Enabulele said: “Our position is that
the sack is totally unacceptable. It is an in indication of the fact that government
did not listen to the voice of reasoning.”
“The earlier we revert
to dialogue and drive mission of development in the healthcare, the better for
all. The sack order by government is not in the interest of the people of
Lagos, the state government and the governor. It is necessary for the
government to have a rethink to go back to negotiation table. It is unfortunate
that things degenerated to this extent.”
LAGOS GOVT EVICTS SACKED DOCTORS
To read more on the story of the eviction of Lagos doctors from there residence click here
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