SACK OF 16,000 RESIDENT DOCTORS IS A MISCALCULATION – OLULADE

PRESS STATEMENT MONDAY 18-08-2014

The spokesperson for the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity representing Epe Constituency II, Hon Segun Olulade has condemned the recent sack of sixteen thousand resident Doctors and immediate stoppage of residence training for government employed Doctors in Nigeria.

Olulade was reacting to the sack issued to resident Doctors by the Federal Government last week over the lingering strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria medical Association (NMA) to press home for its demands which has been described as requests that could help improve the health sector in the country.

Olulade said “without prejudice and favour, the decision to sack such number of specialists across the nation is as bad as sacking the bedrock of the health sector which is very dangerous particularly at this crucial time when the nation is seriously battling to contain the scourge of Ebola outbreak”.

“One cannot but continue to wonder if the Federal Government ever bother to sieve counter-productive advises guiding its decisions on various association striking to press home demands for the betterment of their respective sectors in the country”. “The implication of such move is clear; the sector will be further worsened and I think by the time President Jonathan is leaving office in 2015, the damage on our health sector would have been out of hand”.

The lawmaker then appealed to the striking Doctors to consider the interest of the nation and resume to negotiation with Federal Government particularly considering the current health challenges that nation battles to contain.

He however warned the Federal Government to desist from using unconstitutional means of approach to deal with the current situation noting that decisions such as ‘sack’ will amount to nothing but axing the health sector and putting the health situation of common man in extreme dangers.

Many Nigerians and associations have condemned the mass sack while appealing to the health workers to disregard government’s action and resume to work in the interest of Nigerians particularly for humanitarian purpose which is the underlining basis for medical profession.

Signed:

Hon. Segun Olulade

Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity Lagos State House of Assembly.