Fashola Recalls 788 Sacked Doctors

The Lagos State Government has recalled the 788 doctors in its employ that it sacked.

The state government announced the decision in a statement yesterday .

Details are still sketchy as to the content of the agreement with the doctors who were sacked for embarking on a strike to demand for better pay and reduction in taxes paid.

The Public Relations Officer of the state’s Ministry of Health, Jide Lawal, told The Tide he had also heard of the recall but did not have details.

Lawal promised to revert as soon as he got further details.

A statement by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s Special Adviser (Media), Hakeem Bello, reads in full, “following the appeals and entreaties by national and state leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups and well meaning Nigerians, the state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) after consultation with the Health Service Commission has suspended the dismissal of the striking medical doctors in the state’s public service.

Former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who brought representations from the party leadership to the state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at Lagos House, Alausa said in an interview with State House correspondents later that he met Governor Fashola and during the meeting, he agreed to suspend the sack after consulting the Health Service Commission.

Asiwaju Tinubu added that the party and its leaders felt that the Governor should approach the contending issues with the sacked doctors with more flexibility as a leader of all.

“I have brought the appeal of all the leadership of the party and well meaning Nigerians and other organisations who are committed to the welfare of our people for him to be more flexible, for him to really look at the issue of the doctors on strike critically and I can announce to you that he has agreed to suspend the question of the dismissal of those doctors”, Asiwaju Tinubu stated.

Governor Fashola who also spoke with newsmen at the briefing thanked the party and its leaders and leaders of labour organisations especially the Nigeria Labour Congress for playing intercessory role in this matter and all the well meaning people on both sides that have chosen to mediate rather than to take sides.

The State Governor informed that in the light of these developments he has consulted with the Health Service Commission who have assured him that the issue of dismissal will be suspended immediately, saying, it is now left for the doctors to return to their locations and to regularise their status with the Health Service Commission.

“I hope that in the interest of our people, they will seize this opportunity of this olive branch and let us get on with developmental work that we are tasked with at this time. Once again, I want to thank all the officials for their support, for their appeals, advice and counsel. I assure them that we remain committed to providing the best service to the people”.