Sacked Doctors in Lagos Head to Court as Governor Babatunde Fashola Rejects their Plea for Reinstatement

The hopes of reinstating the 788 sacked doctors in Lagos state were dashed yesterday as a meeting between the Nigeria Medical Association and the state governor, Babatunde Fashola failed to yield any results in favour of the doctors.

According to reports, Governor Fashola rejected the plea by the association that the sacked doctors be recalled back to their positions.

Speaking after a three-hour meeting with the governor, Commissioner for Health and the Head of Service; the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele noted that the Governor said he wasn’t the one that sacked the doctors, therefore, could not reverse the order.

“Governor Fashola rejected our moves to reverse the sacking of the doctors. Efforts by NMA to make both parties shift grounds were rejected.”

“He said the matter was beyond him. He left midway, saying he had made the state government’s position known to the doctors. The NMA is going to constitute a meeting to explore other options available to us.”

The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, said the guild had filed a suit against the state government over the dismissal at the Industrial Court, adding that the case would be coming up on Wednesday (today).

He said instead of negotiating with the leadership of the NMA, Fashola referred the sacked doctors to the Health Service Commission.

Odusote said, “The governor said he was not the person that sacked us. He said we should go and meet our employers, the Health Service Commission.”

“The case is in court already and our hearing comes up tomorrow (Wednesday). Let the law adjudge who is wrong or right.”

He said Fashola, however, agreed to reverse the eviction order given to sacked doctors to vacate their official quarters.

Odusote said, “He said the reversal of the eviction order was within his powers and he would look into it but action stays on the sacking.”

If Governor Fashola is willing to reverse the eviction order, why then can’t he do something about their reinstatement? Why would he continue to allow the doctors stay in their official quarters if he cannot mediate on their reinstatement? Or is the state government just trying to give the doctors a tough time? You are hereby sacked but you can continue to stay in the official quarters….. I don’t quite understand.

Do you think the doctors will win their case in court?

Please share your thoughts.

News Source: Punch News