Nigerian state sacks 788 striking doctors

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - In an unusual action, the government of Lagos state in Nigeria has sacked all the 788 striking medical doctors working in the state's health institutions, replacing them with 373 newly-employed doctors.

The sack was announced Monday night by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Board and the State’s Health Service Commission (HSC).

The doctors have been on strike since 16 April, shutting down all public hospitals in the country's most populous state of 12 million people.

The state's Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, said the two bodies sacked the doctors because of their (doctors') failure to explain why they were absent from work without leave and without the due observance of the rules and regulations guiding strikes and industrial actions in the Public Service.

The statement noted that more doctors are to be employed by the state government to replace the sacked ones.

The doctors embarked on the strike to pressure the government to pay them higher wages.
-0- PANA SEG 8May2012