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The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) on Wednesday appealed to medical doctors in the employ of the Lagos State Government to shelve their current indefinite strike.
The CNPP made the appeal, just as the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) asked the doctors to rather provide skeletal services on humanitarian basis until the issues with the state were sorted out.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Medical Guild on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite strike in Lagos as a result of queries issued to its members by the state government.
The queries issued to the doctors by the various hospitals and the Health Service Commission, was in fulfilment of the government’s decision to challenge what it termed the doctors’ ‘illegal’ three-day warning strike they embarked upon from April 11-13.
NAN reports that the doctors had gone on the warning strike over the state government’s alleged failure to implement a downward review of excessive taxation and pay them the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale Structure (CONMESS).
The Lagos State Chairman of the CNPP, Chief Akiola Obadia, told NAN in an interview in Lagos that there was need for the doctors to shelve the strike and go back to the negotiating table.
``We appeal to the doctors to have a kind heart and reconsider their position so as to avert more deaths in the hospitals.
``The main duty of doctors is to save lives and they should think about that as they amicably resolve their disagreements with the state,’’ Obadia said.
The Lagos State Chairman of the CLO, Mr Ehi Omokhuale, also told NAN that while the body recognised the right of the doctors to make their demands through a strike, it should not be total.
``We are aware that doctors, not just in Lagos State but nationwide, are not properly remunerated which has resulted in serious brain drain in the sector.
``We only urge the doctors to maintain skeletal services until the government accedes to their demands,’’ he said.
Omokhuale, however, said that the Lagos State Government had the ability to implement the agreement.
``When you look at what politicians earn in the state and nationwide, it becomes painful that such a sensitive sector should be neglected,’’ he said.
He urged the state government to immediately withdraw the queries it issued to the doctors and initiate peace talks in the interest of the people. (NAN)
