Guardian: Lagos State Doctors Down Tools, As Edo Counterparts Suspend Strike

[NewsCaster]

 MEDICAL doctors in the employ of the Lagos State Government have embarked on an industrial action. This comes as their counterparts in Edo State on Friday suspended their one-week strike.

The renewed strike is being strictly adhered to. When The Guardian visited the Isolo General Hospital, no doctor could be sighted.

However, a group, the Elders Forum, led by Dr. Olu Falomo, who is the Chief Medical Director of Maryland Specialist Hospital, condemned the strike, maintaining that the doctors could have employed other means to press for their demands.

Some patients, who had come to the Isolo hospital, said the state government should get blame for the strike because it failed to fulfil promises it made to the workers.

Hospital wards were characterised by reduced activity with few nurses attending to patients while cases of emergencies were being turned down.

According to Folomo, the strike is a betrayal of trust because the Lagos State Government has conceded more than is expected, saying the doctors are blackmailers who are insensitive to the plight of Lagos State citizens, particularly the poor masses.

"We consider this strike action one too many and we condemn it. In spite of the response given to them by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, to meet all their demands during the last strike action, the doctors have decided to go back on strike without prior notice to their employer.

"We would not hesitate to point out the fact that most actors of these illegal strike actions are not Lagos State indigenes, their actions are perceived as unethical, faceless and unbecoming of thorough-bred medical professionals, who are purely opportunists and blackmailers.

"We wish to inform the general public that the perpetrators of this act are illegitimate and ordinarily do not have the locus standi to embark on any strike action, as their suit is pending determination in court, as to the legitimacy of being addressed as executive members of NMA Lagos State.

Falomo also said that the doctors are not sincere, considering that the government gave them houses and cars, maintaining that it is wrong for them to be asking for monetisation of their benefits and allowances and still be getting cars and houses from government.

In a telephone chat, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Mr. Edamisa Temiye maintained that those who are condemning the strike action are a disgrace to the medical profession, denying Falomo's claims that the state government gave gifts to doctors.

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Friday announced suspension of its seven-day warning strike, owing to agreement by the state government to up implementation of the Consolidated Salary Structure (CONMESS) to 80 per cent from its initial promise of 77.25 per cent.Lagos State Doctors Down Tools,  As Edo Counterparts Suspend Strike.



Source: Lagos State Doctors Down Tools,  As Edo Counterparts Suspend Strike