The sacked doctors got the backing yesterday of Lagos lawyer Femi Falana and the Joint Action Front (JAF). They called their reinstatement.
Falana said: “Under the Trade Dispute Act, an employer has no powers to sack workers who embark on strike.”
He said since the doctors had a case at the National Industrial Court (NIC), Governor Babatunde Fashola “should reinstate them immediately and direct the Attorney General to file a suit at the NIC without delay.
“When there was a strike by doctors last year, I led a team of civil society leaders to meet both sides which contributed to the resolution of the crisis. Once again, we met on Sunday and constituted a team to meet with officials of the government and the striking doctors on May 9.
“To our utter chagrin, the doctors were dismissed from service on Monday. In view of the far-reaching implication, we urge Governor Fashola to reverse the decision and file a complaint before the NIC for urgent judicial determination of the industrial dispute,” he added.
The JAF also said the action of the “state government constitutes a grave violation of labour laws and international conventions on the freedom of association. The sack of doctors clearly contravenes the decisions and principle of freedom of association committee of the governing body of the international Labour Organisation (ILO). The statement was signed by JAF chair Dr. Oladipo Fashina and secretary Comrade Abiodun Aremu.
TheNation