A Lagos National Industrial Court (NIC) has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the Lagos State government challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit filed by members of the Medical Guild who were relieved of their job recently.
Presiding judge, Justice Benedict Kanyip, in his verdict today,posited that justice would be done in the matter if parties in the matter were given the chance to address the issues at trial and not to eliminate them from same as presently done by the state government
According to him, though the Medical Guild is not a legal entity, hearing the suit on its merit would give parties chance to be held accountable for their actions.
''I think the justice of this case require that parties be given opportunity to address the issue at trial and on merit and not just to shut-out all enquiries at the preliminary stage as the defendants would want me to do. I hold that this court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues at hand'', he held.
He further posited that the suit filed by the dismissed doctors is in order, adding section 254 C (1) of the constitution empowered the vested the court exclusive jurisdiction to entertain maters with condition of service and labour disputes.
He said the claims of the claimants focused on whether they (doctors) were right to have embarked on strike, whether they have reasonable entitlement in relation to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CON-MESS).
Daily Trust