Sacked Doctors and Fashola’s Miscalculation
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| Fashola and Lagos Doctors |
By Justina Okpanku
The controversy generated by the sack of 788 doctors from the employ of Lagos State Government hindered healthcare delivery in the state. The saying that ‘when two elephants fight the grass suffer’ has never been more true. The burden is almost over as Lagos State Government has recalled the 788 doctors last Thursday.
On the two sides of the coin were rare victory, failure and the impact of the strike. Notwithstanding, the public may have heaped a sigh of relief. Some of the major players were more interested in pointing accusing fingers at each other, analyzing where the state government or doctors got it wrong. At that time, patients were dying in Lagos State-owned hospitals for lack of care. The private hospitals, which ought to have come to the rescue, unfortunately, charge more money to patients as bills; to see a doctor you pay as much as N3,000 or N4,000 on consultation fee alone (registration card or renewal).
Indeed, there were monumental losses in various aspects including economically, psychologically and socially. Not a few lost their breadwinners, father, mother, friend or somebody they knew to the strike which lasted for about six weeks.
It is perhaps this reason that some personalities and groups stepped in asking for a quick end to the prolonged strike. Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, an elder statesman and leader of the National Action Coalition (NAC) had called the state government to recall the sacked doctors “immediately and without precondition.”
Braithwaite said the six-week-old strike in Lagos was disturbing enough to call for interference of elder states men. Representatives of Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN); Joint Action Front (JAF); Coalition of Oodua Self- Determination Group; June 12 Coalition; Change Nigeria Movement; and Youth Vigil for Democracy, were at the meeting.
He said without an intent to apportion blame, “it is wrong for the Lagos State government to sack 788 doctors en- masse.
Mum was the word as the nation awaited the reabsorbed of the doctors (788) by no other than Governor Babatunde Fashola. As at Wednesday last week, an indication showed that the state government and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) were far from reaching truce.
ACN fire
A leading political party in the south-west, Nigeria, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) may have supported Lagos State government in the protracted face-off it has with doctors in the state. The party said the state government acted responsibly and in accordance with the state’s civil/public service rules in sacking the striking doctors in its employment.
In a statement issued in Lagos recently by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also accused the petulant doctors of flouting industrial laws by declaring the strike that led to their sack without issuing the necessary notice to their employers.
The latest strike , according to ACN, by the doctors is based on totally new and unreasonable demands by the doctors, who are asking the state government to pay them far in excess of what was contained in CONMESS…Unknown to many, some consultants are already earning more than 800,000 naira a month..
’It is on the basis of this totally new and unrealistic demands that the doctors gave a mere 24-hour notice to embark on an three-day warning strike, and gave no notice at all to embark on their now ill-fated indefinite strike, without worrying about the impact of their action on the public.
“There is nothing altruistic about the doctors’ strike. It is all about them and them alone. They do not care whether or not the state government can meet overhead or development costs, or whether the hospitals where they work can even be adequately equipped. What matters is for the ever-elastic demands of the seemingly-insatiable doctors to be met once they are issued. This is unrealistic and untenable, and the doctors must be told in clear terms,
There is no need to politicise the issues on ground (reference to Peoples Democratic Party), because innocent Nigerians, irrespective of their party affiliation, suffer greatly, with some, even losing their lives, every time doctors fling away their stethoscopes in the name of a strike.
Fashola posture
Lagosians always say they understand why Governor is tough, he is a lawyer. During the face-off between him and the state doctors, he argued as a lawyer. Fashola said the sack of the doctors was not done by him while speaking at a live panel discussion on the state-owned television station to mark the first anniversary of his second term in office. He said his powers as governor did not afford him the right to sack or employ any doctor.
The state Health Service Commission (HSC), he said, was the body charged with the responsibility of determining the fate of the doctors. “I can’t reverse the sack, it is not in my powers to do so, I won’t be able to do so, just as I cannot affect their promotion. It is the HMC that will promote them and I won’t be here after three years, so it’s not about me, it’s about institutions”, he said.
It can be recalled that on May 6, the state government through the Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, said in a statement, that the decision to sack the doctors resulted from the refusal to answer the queries issued to them, to explain why they were absent from work without the rules and regulations guiding strikes and industrial actions in the state public service.
In a twist, the Governor, reports say, disclosed that 34 out of the 788 doctors sacked from the employ of the state government have been reabsorbed, the NMA denied that the state government has withdrawn the dismissal letters and recalled 34 doctors. He urged other medical doctors to take their cue from the 34 recalled medical practitioners as a chance for a possible reinstatement was still very much possible. He urged them to take the first point of appealing their dismissal.
The Governor said he had made efforts to ensure a final resolution of the prolonged strike hence the recall of the 34 doctors, Fashola said: “Anyone who appeals should be recalled, but they (sacked doctors) have to take the step. Let the doctors go to their employers and resolve the issue, doctors who still want to remain can have their jobs back, engage with your employers”, he said.
It is instructive that media personalities were at the discussion. The panelists, include Mr. Femi Adesina, Deputy Managing Director of the SUN Newspapers, Mr. Simon Kolawole, Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Agatha Amata, talk show personality and, Aderoju Adepoju, a broadcaster.
It is gathered that more doctors would be recalled as their appeals were being considered. The instruction seems to be appeal first as the 34 doctors recalled were on the basis of the appeal and review of their cases.
Bold Step
Fashola must be a listening Governor to have recalled 788 doctors after the seeming endless strike. The Governor, accompanied by senator Bola Tinubu, his predecessor, addressed journalists last Thursday. He explained that he had sheath his sword after consultation with leaders of ACN, the Nigeria Labour Congress and other groups.
“One could not hear those appeals and also the appeals of the ordinary people of the state and remains unmindful of them. It is in that light I have consulted with the Health Service Commission and they have assured that the issue of dismissal will be reversed immediately,” he said.
According to Fashola, “ I would like to thank the party an dour leaders, al the well-meaning people on both sides…The issues are disputes about institutions and nothing more and how we could work together to provide better healthcare. It is now left for the doctors to return to their locations and to regularise their status with the HSC.”
While commending the commitment of the state government at quality and affordable healthcare for Lagos residents, Braithwaite said an effective partnership with the medical practitioners could bring the efforts to fruition. He said the position of the coalition was that a peaceful resolution must be immediately worked out.
“Our position is that Lagos State government must recall the sacked doctors. We understand that even consultants and professors were also sacked at the state’s teaching hospital that has been a source of pride to us. The place has only one neurosurgeon who has also been sacked. The state government must now be aware of the damage that the mass sack has already done to healthcare delivery in the state,” he said.
NMA position
The NMA may be savouring its victory now. It took the bull by the horn from the onset, supporting its members. At a time, the state government wanted to divide its rank, but it failed woefully. Could the lucky 34 doctors appealed against the sack? The Lagos NMA said it considered it a “ propaganda” of the Lagos government, saying that the state had no evidence to support the claim that its members formally appealed against the sack and earned a recall.
Suddenly, the protagonist has come with an olive branch, what would the doctors do? Dr. Johnson Emene, NMA First Vice Chairman had said only the unconditional recall of all 788 sacked doctors would bring an end to the crisis.
The reinstatement of the doctors was earned, it didn’t come on a platter of gold. Still, many said the medical profession is not part of the victory. The National Assembly is also not counted. It was only last Thursday that the Senate Committee held a crucial meeting with the National Association of Resident Doctors with a view to prevent the doctors from continuing with the strike. Chidozie Achonwa, President of the association, had accused the National Assembly of not intervening in the plight of the doctors. Afterall, a stitch in time saves nine. Pundits say the real heroes are those who didnt not have any dog in the fight, yet they stuck out their necks for peace to reign.