Fashola insists he can’t reabsorb sacked doctors

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, urged the sacked striking doctors in the state to channel their appeal through the Health Service Commission, to clear any issue that might have led to their sack, if they were still interested in getting reinstated and put an end to the crisis in the health sector.


He said he had no power to reabsorb the sacked doctors. The governor, at a live broadcast and handing over of Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1FM as part of activities to mark his fifth anniversary and Democracy Day, said the issue between the doctors and the government could best be resolved by the appropriate authorities, who were in charge of their employment and firing.

Fashola appeared on a live LTV interactive session with Deputy Managing Director of SUN Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina; Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Simon Kolawole; Talk Show producer, Agatha Amatha and broadcaster, Aderoju Adepoju, and other panelists, to commission the Traffic Radio.

He said the state Health Service Commission was the one saddled with the responsibility of determining the fate of the doctors, and urged them to take the first step of appealing their dismissal.

He said: “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 effect 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.”

Handing over Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 FM to Lagos residents as part of dividends of democracy to achieve a more happy and safe motoring in the state, he explained that the traffic radio will help pedestrians and motorists decide on the best way of getting to their destinations on time, adding that the radio will also avail motorists the opportunity of managing their time and money well.

Meanwhile, Governor Fashola has decried the high level of fraud in private organisations in the state, urging employed youths to desist from sabotaging investors.

Fashola, added that the state Ministry of Justice will begin the prosecution of traders and commercial motorcycle operators who flout traffic laws in the state, especially on the Bus Rapid Transport, BRT, corridors in the state.

At the inauguration of the Murtala Muhammed Way Yaba-Oyingbo-Iddo and the 304 LAGBUS Bus Franchise Scheme, in Lagos, Fashola said the measure will reduce unemployment rate in the state.

He said: “As investors are coming to invest in the country, there was need for us all to remember that without these people’s faith and the efforts of the state government to lure investors to the country, there will be no employment for thousands of youth.

“You are the pioneers, who have got the privilege to work for these investors, do not sabotage them. This is because there are still thousands of unemployed youths in the state, who are looking for the same opportunity that you have today. If these opportunities continue, unemployment will be reduced drastically.”