I’m Ready To Recall Sacked Doctors If....... Says Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday said he would readily recall the 788 doctors sacked last month by his administration, if advised to do by the appropriate authorities.
Speaking on a special interview programme on Murhi Intenational Television monitored in Lagos, Fashola said he lacked the power to either sack or reinstate the doctors unilaterally.
The doctors were sacked after refusing to respond to queries issued to them by the state health ministry for proceeding on strike.
Fashola said the doctors were employed by the state health commission and were answerable to it and not the governor.
“If I receive advice that I can do so, I probably would. The problem there is that the law does not give me a role to play except in appointment.

“No matter how aggrieved we fail, we must allow institutions to work.”
He said if the parties “genuinely seek a solution, there will be away out,” he said.
“People have failed to recognize that governments are institutions. I don’t have the power to sack doctors. Doctors are employed by the state health board.
“The law does not give the governor any role to play in that process except the appointment of the chairman and members of the board, on the recommendation of the commissioner for health.
“You allow institutions to work. This is not a Fashola show. If we don’t seek to personalize these issues, ideally, I shouldn’t be sitting in a meeting negotiating with doctors.”
The governor said he had shied away from making comments on the issue, to allow for due process. He gave the assurance, however, that he would be willing to “promote a meeting of minds.”
He denied snubbing a delegation from the Nigerian Medical Association, which paid him a visit on May 15 to negotiate the recall of the doctors. He explained that prior to their visit, he already had an appointment said he did not snub the NMA but excused himself to attend a meeting with a fellow governor.