The 788 doctors whose sack was reversed by the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola Thursday, yesterday said they would not resume duties until their official letters backing their reinstatement were received from the state government.
The doctors demanding for improved conditions of service were summerily dismissed last month for allegedly embarking on an illegal strike.
The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr.Olumuyiwa Odusote who spoke at a news briefing organised by the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos said although the government had announced that they had been recalled, the guild was yet to receive any official letter from the government.
Odusote said,”We are asking government to communicate to us as they did with the sack. ”We are happy that they recalled us, but we need an official letter before we can call off the strike or resume work in the hospitals.”
He, however, explained that the guild had written an official letter to the State Health Service Commission, HSC, requesting for the official letters of reinstatement. ”Many doctors have called the Chief Medical Directors of their hospitals to know if they have received letters backing their recallbut government is yet to communicate with them”.
Also,the Chairman, Lagos State NMA, Dr.Edamisan Temiye said that until letters of recall were given to the sacked doctors,the guild would not call off the indefinite strike.
Temiye said,” The doctors are ready to resume immediately but as of now, what they have are their letters of dismissal.
”How could government have made such a momentous statement without contacting the key players. As of now,it is illegal for the doctors to go into these hospitals.We do not even know the conditions attached to this recall or suspension of dismissal.”
Source:Vanguardngr
