Lagos reverses sacking of 34 doctors

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday said his administration had reversed the sacking of 34 doctors out of the 788 dismissed recently.

He urged the remaining doctors to end the logjam in the health sector by emulating their colleagues and appealing to the Health Service Commission, since their reinstatement was still possible.

Fashola explained that the doctors were recalled because of their appeal and positive review of their cases.

The governor spoke during a panel discussion aired live on the state television station, LTV, to commemorate his 5th anniversary in office.

He said he could not order the reversal of the sacking because it was not his own making. He explained that his powers as governor of the state did not give him power to sack or employ any doctor.

Fashola pointed out that the HSC was the body saddled with the responsibility of determining the fate of the doctors.

He said, “It is not in my power to reverse the sacking, just as I cannot determine their promotion. It is the HMC that will promote them and since I won’t be here after three years, it is better to allow procedure to take its course. It is not about me, it is about institutions.”

He however said he was still making efforts to ensure a final resolution of the crisis, adding that any doctor that appealed stood a good chance of being recalled.

The governor denied that the government reneged on its agreement with the doctors, saying the state had made efforts to ensure that doctors were comfortable.

He, however, noted that instead of incessant calls for increment by workers, the focus should be on solution to institutional imbalance and factors that weaken the currency.

He said the state government was tackling some of the problems by initiating projects to promote welfare in agriculture; housing and inter modal transportation.

The governor later inaugurated State Traffic Radio, 96.1 FM, as part of the celebration, saying that traffic information would ensure safe motoring in the state and a healthy life for its citizens.

Fashola also inaugurated a new BRT route to cover Yaba-Oyingbo-Iddo, saying it would provide sustainable mass transit services in the state.