Doctors Protest In Lagos Against Members’ Sack

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Monday, August 18th, 2014

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos

Following their purported sack by the Federal government last week, the Lagos state Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday filled out in protest against the decision which affected over 16,000 of its members.

African Examiner Lagos City Correspondent reported that the doctors clad in their professional laboratory overall were led by the state Chairman, Dr. Tope Ojo, who also addressed newsmen inside the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi- Araba, complex.

Dr. Ojo who addressed journalists amidst his members clutching and displaying placards with the various inscriptions such as: Death Sentence for Nigerians!, Sack of 16,000 resident doctors, Sack Ebola not Doctors, Sack Boko Haram not Doctors, among others lamented that the latest development would signal total collapse of the country’s poorly-funded health sector.

The union leader vowed that the striking doctors would not down tools until the sack was unconditionally reversed, while insisted that the doctors would do everything in their capacity to defend their profession.

Ojo who unveiled the Federal government’s plan to casualize doctors’ employment as allegedly done by the State Governor Babtunde Fashola, called for immediate removal of the Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. NMA’s demand according to Ojo was owing to his misleading advice to President Goodluck Jonathan on the over one month nationwide industrial action.

Federal Government announced on Thursday, August 14, 2014 sack of over 16,000 resident doctors in the Federal Hospitals. This prompted last week’s NMA National President, Dr. Kayode Obembe’s call on members not to sign any register, nor collect sack letter issued by the government.