The Nigerian Medical Association has denied media reports that some sacked doctors had started lobbying the Lagos State government to be reinstated.
A statement by the association in Lagos on Monday said the media report was not only false but a product of the imagination of the reporters.
The association condemned the report and described it as an attempt to cause a division between its National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and the leadership of the Medical Guild.
The publication had reported that some of the sacked doctors were lobbying the state government to be reinstated and also alleged that the NMA President was against the strike embarked upon by the Medical Guild.
The NMA stated, "We describe the story as scurrilous, an outright falsehood and a desperate attempt to blackmail the President and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, as well as distract the NMA leadership from her commitment to a just and quick resolution of the conflict between its members and the Lagos State government."
The story which was published in the Monday edition of a local newspaper said an anonymous source had said that the President of the NMA, was unhappy with the position of the Medical Guild on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, but was afraid that if he failed to dance to the tune of the doctors, he might be impeached.
"To say that Enabulele, who was overwhelmingly elected only 17days ago would be bothered about impeachment over his courageous and progressive handling of the Lagos quagmire is ridiculous and ludicrous," the NMA said, pointing out that the NMA leader had an unblemished track record as a progressive crusader for social justice.
"Nigerians and indeed the whole world are very much aware that for over a week, the NMA President and the national leadership of the NMA have consistently made efforts to resolve the labour crisis in Lagos State, despite the hard line anti-labour posture of the Lagos State government," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday urged the National Industrial Court to refuse to entertain the suit filed by 788 doctors sacked by the state.
The doctors had filed the suit prior to their sacking to pre-empt the government from taking any disciplinary action against them for embarking on a three-day warning strike in March 2012.
Their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, on May 16, 2012, filed another application, seeking the court to reverse the sacking.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner of the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria told Justice Benedict Kanyip to strike out the suit.
However, the judge said, "This court came to existence to avoid the technicalities obtained in the conventional courts. What is the point in declining jurisdiction and striking out the case by mere looking at the suit on the surface, when we know there is no other court that has jurisdiction to hear the matter."
Ipaye insisted the suit was incompetent on the basis that it was instituted on behalf of the doctors' association – the Lagos State Medical Guild – not recognised by law.
Aturu, however, argued that the association could sue in a representative capacity.
Kanyip, who affirmed his promise to give the case an accelerated hearing, adjourned till May 24 to deliver ruling on government's application.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayA statement by the association in Lagos on Monday said the media report was not only false but a product of the imagination of the reporters.
The association condemned the report and described it as an attempt to cause a division between its National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and the leadership of the Medical Guild.
The publication had reported that some of the sacked doctors were lobbying the state government to be reinstated and also alleged that the NMA President was against the strike embarked upon by the Medical Guild.
The NMA stated, "We describe the story as scurrilous, an outright falsehood and a desperate attempt to blackmail the President and the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, as well as distract the NMA leadership from her commitment to a just and quick resolution of the conflict between its members and the Lagos State government."
The story which was published in the Monday edition of a local newspaper said an anonymous source had said that the President of the NMA, was unhappy with the position of the Medical Guild on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, but was afraid that if he failed to dance to the tune of the doctors, he might be impeached.
"To say that Enabulele, who was overwhelmingly elected only 17days ago would be bothered about impeachment over his courageous and progressive handling of the Lagos quagmire is ridiculous and ludicrous," the NMA said, pointing out that the NMA leader had an unblemished track record as a progressive crusader for social justice.
"Nigerians and indeed the whole world are very much aware that for over a week, the NMA President and the national leadership of the NMA have consistently made efforts to resolve the labour crisis in Lagos State, despite the hard line anti-labour posture of the Lagos State government," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday urged the National Industrial Court to refuse to entertain the suit filed by 788 doctors sacked by the state.
The doctors had filed the suit prior to their sacking to pre-empt the government from taking any disciplinary action against them for embarking on a three-day warning strike in March 2012.
Their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, on May 16, 2012, filed another application, seeking the court to reverse the sacking.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner of the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria told Justice Benedict Kanyip to strike out the suit.
However, the judge said, "This court came to existence to avoid the technicalities obtained in the conventional courts. What is the point in declining jurisdiction and striking out the case by mere looking at the suit on the surface, when we know there is no other court that has jurisdiction to hear the matter."
Ipaye insisted the suit was incompetent on the basis that it was instituted on behalf of the doctors' association – the Lagos State Medical Guild – not recognised by law.
Aturu, however, argued that the association could sue in a representative capacity.
Kanyip, who affirmed his promise to give the case an accelerated hearing, adjourned till May 24 to deliver ruling on government's application.
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