Lagos doctors to shut federal hospitals

The striking doctors have insisted on the implementation of the agreement reached with the state government

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has announced a total and indefinite strike that will grind public health services in the state to a halt by next week.

Johnson Emene, the First Vice Chairman of the association, told journalists, yesterday in Lagos, that the union is giving the state government till Saturday before it would withdraw doctors' services in all federal hospitals in the state by Sunday, which he said was in line with a directive from the union's executive council. "The directive was that all doctors in states that are yet to implement CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Scale) should proceed on an indefinite strike, and these include federal institutions," he said.

Courting chaos

According to him, the directive will affect the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centres in Oshodi and Ebute-Metta. The Medical Guild, comprising doctors under the employment of the state government, had commenced an indefinite strike action to demand the implementation of improved salary scale, among other issues. The doctors were on strike for 14 weeks last year for the same demands, and had suspended the strike following an agreement with the state government.

Ayobode Williams, Medical Guild Chairman, however rejected the new wage structure earlier announced by the state government, saying only the implementation of full CONMESS, along with other agreements reached with the government would get the doctors back to work. "The table presented is not the table we agreed upon when we called of the strike," he said. "We have a gentleman agreement with the government that they would pay CONMESS in full by January this year, so why are they reneging on that promise? There is no percentage of CONMESS ... CONMESS is CONMESS."

Government's offer

The state government had, on Wednesday, announced a new wage structure which reflected a 90 percent implementation of the demanded CONMESS wage structure. "The highest level of consultant now earns about N700,000 monthly," said Jide Idris, the Commissioner of Health. "The difference between this amount and what they are agitating for is just about N50, 000. In fact, the new wage is 100 percent CONMESS for the House Officers."

Mr Idris said the circular to document the new wage structure is being processed in the office of the Head of Service, and therefore, implored the striking medics to call off their strike and come back to negotiation table for other issues. "You cannot solve labour issues one at a go. It is work in process. Nurses also have issues but they are not opting for strike, rather they are dialoguing with us. That is how it should be, instead withdrawing services which put unnecessary burden on hapless Lagos resident," he said.

On the issue of the sacked former chairman of the medical guild, Ibrahim Olaifa, the commissioner said the government's lawyer and that of Mr Olaifa had agreed to settle out of court.