The Lagos State government yesterday said that it would not hesitate to implement the “a no work no pay” policy for doctors under its employ who refuse to report at their duty post as at when scheduled.
The state government also appealed to the doctors in its employ to shun call for industrial action by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the overall interests of the people of the state and their medical ethics.
The state government drew the attention of the doctors to sections 118, 209 and 210 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State which state that “it is an offence to maliciously break a contract of service knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the probable consequence of doing so will endanger human life or seriously endanger public health.”
The position of the state government was made known by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, in his office. The commissioner noted that any industrial action by doctors would bring untold hardship to the people and could result in avoidable deaths of patients who would require their services.
The state government claimed that the crisis in the health sector was between the NMA and the Federal Government and as such should not be extended to the state.
The commissioner maintained that the nature of the work of doctors does not permit them to embark on industrial disputes without recourse to its implication on the society, saying workers in the health sector are statutorily classified as offering ‘essential services’ and who must follow the laid down procedures before embarking on such action.
Recounting the negative implications of such strikes in the past, the commissioner said illegal strikes have in the past caused untold sufferings, injury and death to innocent patients.
Source: National Mirror
