By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
LAGOS — ALTHOUGH indications emerged, yesterday, that some of the sacked Lagos doctors may be recalled, the state government has ruled out a blanket recall of all the doctors, even as the aggrieved doctors have accused the government of prolonging the current health crisis in the state.

Also, the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has warned its members against defying directives of the association with respect to the alleged casualisation of medical professionals in the state.

Gov Fashola of Lagos State

Giving the hint on the possible recall of the doctors, Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, at a briefing in Lagos confirmed that some of the sacked doctors had already appealed to the government for a recall, saying the appropriate authorities were looking into their cases.

He said: “Yes, some of the sacked doctors have appealed to the government,” adding that relevant authorities of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH and Health Service Commission, HSC are considering the cases, very soon the results of the appeal will be made public.”

He, however, said government was still in talks with the NMA on ways to iron out the differences.

Ogunlewe explained that the doctors were sacked to save the state‘s health sector, adding that the strike violated the terms and rules of their employment.

The HOS said the strike was not justified, especially as the government had implemented the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, CONMESS, for doctors in its employment.

CONMESS

On the issue of any agreement between the striking doctors and the state government on payment of CONMESS, Ogunlewe said: We have commenced the payment of the new salary structure for the doctors since January 2011 which is commensurate with the Federal Government salary structure and until when they embarked on their strike, none of the doctors was owed by the state government.

He, however, said already, 1,680 officers had been recruited between June 2011 and April 2012 based on special needs. This figure, he noted, covers those in other services except the local governments.

Medical Guild  accuses govt

Meanwhile, in a statement, yesterday, the sacked Lagos doctors accused the state government of prolonging the current health crisis in the state, even as the state branch of the NMA warned its members against defying directives of the association with respect to the alleged casualisation of medical professionals in the state.

The statement  signed by Drs. Olumuwiya Odusote and Dr. Idris Durojaiye, Chairman and Secretary of the Medical Guild respectively, said it had resolved to continue pursuing all legal and peaceful means of resolving the crisis.

Sacked doctors ‘ve not appealed for reinstatement —Odusote

Reacting to the claim by the state government on the appeal for reinstatement,  Odusote, when contacted, said:”It is a lie, none of the 788 sacked doctors has gone to the state government to appeal to be reinstated into the state civil service.

“They are trying to misinform the general public about the issue and to also make them panic. They (the state government) have drafted a letter of appeal asking our members to sign, but none of the 788 sacked doctors has responded to the call.”

NMA warns members

In a related development, the state branch of the NMA has warned its members against defying its directives on the strike.

The warning contained in a three-paragraph statement signed by Drs. Edamisan Temiye and Olusola Olowoselu, Chairman and Secretary of the NMA, Lagos State branch respectively, said: “We wish to warn all doctors that no one should be in doubt of the Association’s resolve to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. All medical and dental doctors are, therefore, advised not to be misled by the propaganda being peddled by the Lagos State Government.”