Gov. Babatunde Fashola Has Failed To Save the Lives of Innocent Patients

While Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos state is dining and wining with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Lord Paul Boateng, President Mary Robinso and other world leaders among Nigerian dignitaries at the 2010 Kuramo Conference on Law and Development at the Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, abandoned poor patients are still suffering and dying in Lagos state public hospitals, because resident medical doctors are on strike over the failure of the Lagos state government to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale.


How can patients survive when medical doctors are on strike. Photo Credit: The Nation newspaper of Nigeria.

Governor Fashola is not feeling the excruciating pains or the pangs of death of the unfortunate patients, because he can afford to either use the expensive private hospitals or spend tax payers’ money on foreign medical trips.
The coldblooded behavior of Governor Fashola is enough proof of how he really cares for the welfare of the people he is asking to re-elect him in 2011.

The blood of the unfortunate patients who have died since the resident doctors began their strike in August is in the hands of Governor Fashola, because he failed to save their lives.

How can a sane public administrator do this wickedness to tax payers in his state?

The doctors employed by the Lagos state government are underpaid and have been enduring poor conditions of service over the years. The governor has no excuse for not implementing the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale.
It is only in an uncivilized state that what is going on can happen. It is a disgrace!

May I ask all the above VIPs and the following to visit the public hospitals in Lagos state and see how much Governor Fashola has achieved?

• Dr. Benedict Oramah, Executive Vice-Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank
• Mr. Enver Daniels, Chief State Legal Adviser for South African Government.
• Ms. Michaela Ahlberg, Head of Legal, Nokia Siemens Network, Middle East and Africa
• Dr. Paschal Iwuh, Co-founder of The African Network, Inc. Palo Alto, California, USA
• Mr. Jeremy Sivyer, Senior Partner Simmons & Simmons, City of London, UK
• Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, Deputy Prosecutor International Criminal Court Hague
• Mr. Courtenay Griffiths, QC , Counsel to Mr. Charles Taylor
• Prof. Makau W. Mutua, Professor of Law, Buffalo Law School N.Y., USA
• Ms. Kara Irwin, Founder Molnar International Limited
• Mr. Edward Davis, Jr, Founding partner of the Law firm Astigarraga Davis
• Prof. Paddy Gray, President Chartered Institute for Housing, UK
• Mr. Joe Behan, International President, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Mr. Simon Greenberg, Deputy Secretary General, ICC Court of Arbitration
• Mr. Luis Gonzalez Garcia, Matrix Chambers, Griffin building, Gray’s Inn, London
• Mr. Ucheora Onwuamaegbu, fmr. Senior Counsel, ICSID, Washington DC
• Mr. Kamal Shah, Arbitration Partner, Stephenson Harwood, London
• Mr. Segun Osuntokun, Partner Berwin Leighton Paisner, UK
• H.E. Prince Bola Ajibola SAN, KBE, President & Judge of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal
• Chief Sena Anthony, Managing Partner Chief Sena Anthony and Associates, Oil and Gas Law Consultants and UK Chartered Arbitrators
• Dr (Mrs.) Joke Oyewunmi, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos
• Prof. P K. Fogam, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria. Author, Lecturer and Consultant
• Mr. Charles Adeogun, Genocide & War Crimes Prosecutor, Lawyer and Founder of Charles Anthony
• Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, Partner, Sofunde, Osakwe Ogundipe and Belgore.
• Prof. Nsongurua Udombana, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
• Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, former Chairman Eti Osa Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria
• Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser to NNPC
• Prof. (Mrs.) Okorodudu-Fubara, Professor of International Law, O. A.U. Ile-Ife
• Prof. A. Mabogunje, Chairman of the Development Policy Centre, Ibadan.
• Dr. Victor Fodeke, Climate Change unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment
• Prof. Johnson Falade, Urban and Regional Planning; Programme Officer, United Nations Habitat.
• Mr. Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN, Senior Partner, Strachan Partners, Lagos.
• Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN FCIArb, Partner, AELEX, Lagos
• Prof. Fidelis Oditah QC, SAN, Principal Partner of Fidelis Oditah & Co.
• Dr. Wale Olawoyin, Partner, Olawoyin & Olawoyin
• Dr. Hakeem Seriki, Steptoe & Johnson, London
• Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, Senior Legal Officer, Africa Program of the Open Society Justice Initiative.
• Brig Gen ‘Tunde Reis PhD OON First World Communities Representative of Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE)
• Mr. Tim Taylor, Partner, S J Berwin
• Mr. Amadi Amadi, Manager HSE Technical (Sub Saharan Africa) Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria
• Mr. Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN FRASA
• Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Executive Director of the Growing Business Foundation, Nigeria
• Chief Bayo Ojo SAN, former Attorney General for the Federation and Minister for Justice
• Mr. Derk Kuipers Secretary-General of the International Association of Prosecutors
• Mr. Humphrey Harrison Managing Director, World Heritage Investments
• Prof Felix Dayo, President/CEO Triple “E” Systems
• Professor Paul Ocheje, Professor of law and Director, Centre for Transitional Law and Justice, University of Windsor, Ontario Canada
• Mr. Wale Fapohunda Managing Partner of the Legal Resources Consortium
• Mr. Soji Apampa The Executive Director of The Convention on Business Integrity
• Mr. Basil Elombat Magistrate from Cameroon-IAP Vice President for Africa
• Mr. Sonnie Ayere CEO Dunn Loren Merrifield
• Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye EFCC Secretary
• Mr. Afolabi Caxton Martins (FCIArb) Partner in the Commercial Law of Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor and Segun
• Dr. Muiz Banire, Honourable Commissioner for Environment Lagos State
• Dr. Remi Desalu, mni, Perm. Sec. Ministry of Special Duties, Lagos State Secretariat
• Mrs. Fola Laoye, CEO Hygeia Group
• Mr. George Etomi, Principal Partner George Etomi & Partners
• Mr. Frank Oweke Jr, Director General of NESG, Lagos
• Mrs. Doyin Rhodes Vivour, FCI Arb, Managing Partner, Doyin Rhodes Vivour & Co.
• Ms. Carla Dominique Denizard, Senior Development and Food Security Specialist Economic Growth DAI , Ghana
• Mr. J. B. Daudu SAN, National President Nigerian Bar Association
• Mr. Bode Adediji, President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.
• Mr. Abimbola Ogunyinka, President, Primary Mortgage Institution(PMI) Association.
• Mr. Hakeem Ogundiran, Managing Director, UACN Properties
• Mr. Kenechuwu Mbagwu Managing Director, CMB Building Maintainance Investment Limited. Executive Member, Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN)
• Mr. Martin Woolnough, Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria Plc
• Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Programme Officer Ford Foundation, Lagos

I used to respect and admire BRF, however given the handling of the doctor's strike, I must say am totally disappointed in the Guvnor. I am not a doctor I don't know why they are on strike but what I do know is that the masses are suffering. Some have died because of avoidable and treatable sicknesses.

This might sound harsh but I make bold to say the blood of those who have died like chickens in the course of this doctor's strike is on the hands of Babatunde Raji Fashola. E ko oni baje o.

Politics should never be played ove the lives of innocent people. of all valuable assets, human life is the most valuable of all.

I thought doctor's swear some hippowatever oath to save lyf or something wat with d stryk to dey work tommorrow thing? Fashola is not superman am sure he is working on it

good he's working. But how many lives have to be lost before he finishes the work. I don't want to know whoever his right but because of the issue of human lives at stake, this has become a state of emergency, prompt and decisve action MUST be taken. I make bold to say again Fashola has failed the masses of this state. the people who 'brought' him to power.

Why the heck should anyone allow doctors to go on strike? Where is Babapupa? Come and explain.

Brisingr:

I thought doctor's swear some hippowatever oath to save lyf or something wat with d stryk to dey work tommorrow thing? Fashola is not superman am sure he is working on it

And Fashola also swore to safeguard the lives of Lagosians when he was being sworn in. What's your point?

where are the so call progressives? where are the Save Nigeria Group? where are the ACN to tell us why the innocents deserves to die like fowls.

Can someone please tell me how much the doctors are earning and how much they are asking for? We need to analyse their demands viz a viz what exists in the state, if a doctor is earning up to 200K entry level, then I think they do not have a case, in case they do not know, Nigeria is a poor country, everybody has to sacrifice a little.

At Mr. Hercules, what we are saying is not about the money sir. Why some of us are worried is the fact that people are suffering because this strike has not been resolved. the bad part is it Govt seems not to care about the fact that human lives are been unavoidably wasted. I pray you don't have a medical emergency on your hands when you don't have a dime, then you would understand the gravity of what is going on. A solution has to be gotten to end this strike by all stakeholders.

hercules07:

Can someone please tell me how much the doctors are earning and how much they are asking for? We need to analyse their demands viz a viz what exists in the state, if a doctor is earning up to 200K entry level, then I think they do not have a case, in case they do not know, Nigeria is a poor country, everybody has to sacrifice a little.

Make that more like 100K entry level. And after 7-8 years of intense study and training in a highly specialized career, that ain't enough.
The money is available, let Fashola chop less and spend less on projects of dubious value. This messiah-Governor's arrogance and insensitivity is the only thing prolonging the strike.

@Texas

The doctors getting 100K as entry level is still okay for the economic situation we find ourselves, there are many needs that the government should take care of.

How the hell do doctors go on strike? What kind of doctors are those? I don't know what the reason for the strike is but, the Government (both state and Federal) should draft in Military doctors to handle some of the load. The blood of those people are 100% on the hands of these so called doctors.

Did they reduce their pay? Haven't doctors before them survived on the same pay?

Again I have to ask, what kind of doctors go on general strike? I just can't comprehend this. Even in war zones where medical staff are in the firing line, I have never head of this before. Look at Somalia where doctors are under constant threat, they still turn up to help people.

Fashola should be doing much more to resolve this. Hugely dissapointing.

Entry level doctors in Lagos are nearer 200k than 100k so please stop lying and if you now add allowances to it they about 200k. As for the strike, the doctors that is their national body NMA went to negotiate with the FG and came back with CONMESS (consolidated medical salary system) this new payment structure took their salaries to another stratosphere and we now have senior consultants earning about N1m a month. (Yes you read right one million naira per month)as take home. One of my kid brothers is a senior consultant in  federal hospital in Abuja and he went from roughly 340k a month to just over N1m. Now the state doctors now said since we are all doctors we want the same salary but from time immemorial Federal workers get more than State workers and it is unfair for the doctors to want to blackmail Lagos stateinto paying CONMESS that is not even in the state budget.
One other point we are missing is that doctors in Lagos State are among the highest paid among state doctors in the country and for them to jettison all the ethos of their hippocractic oath and turn into militants leaves a sour taste in the mouth. They have been on strike since August, yet every month end they go to the banks to draw salaries they have not worked for, when you elect to go into the medical line, your primary motive is humanitarian and then the rewards that comes with it, i worked as an Oracle Database Manager in the NHS in UK for 12 years and i saw first hand the commitment of doctors, nurses, auxilliary medical staff etc to the patients and indeed when they had pay disputes with the government and yes they had many, strike was never an option because of the oath they swore on induction.
Today however in Nigeria, we have Jankara and area boy mentality doctors who are in it for the money and nothing else, and until governments in Nigeria starts enforcing things like no work, no pay as it is in UK,  such shenanigans will not stop; if you think these set of doctors are not area boys, how do you explain the federal doctors in Lagos, who went on a 3 day strike since Tuesday, not because of pay, working conditions etc. but wait for this, in solidarity with their colleaagues in the state hospital. Guys this must stop and the first step is to fire these touts and employ doctors.

isuomo:

One other point we are missing is that doctors in Lagos State are among the highest paid among state doctors in the country and for them to jettison all the ethos of their hippocractic oath and turn into militants leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

This is what I find absolutely astonishing. Doctors in friggin warzones still turn up to work. Hell even volunteer doctors put themselves in life threating situations to help people for free. What the hell kind of doctors do we have in Lagos.

Mariory:

How the hell do doctors go on strike? What kind of doctors are those? I don't know what the reason for the strike is but, the Government (both state and Federal) should draft in Military doctors to handle some of the load. The blood of those people is %100 on the hands of these so called doctors.

Did they reduce their pay? Haven't doctors before them survived on the same pay?

Again I have to ask, what kind of doctors go on general strike? I just can't comprehend this. Even in war zones where medical staff are in the firing line, I have never head of this before. Look at Somalia where doctors are under constant threat, they still turn up to help people.

Fashola should be doing much more to resolve this. Hugely dissapointing.

@texapette dis is my point

isuomo:

Entry level doctors in Lagos are nearer 200k than 100k so please stop lying and if you now add allowances to it they about 200k.

We're talking about Doctors working for the State Government, not the federal Government.

isuomo:

Entry level doctors in Lagos are nearer 200k than 100k so please stop lying and if you now add allowances to it they about 200k. As for the strike, the doctors that is their national body NMA went to negotiate with the FG and came back with CONMESS (consolidated medical salary system) this new payment structure took their salaries to another stratosphere and we now have senior consultants earning about N1m a month. (Yes you read right one million naira per month)as take home. One of my kid brothers is a senior consultant in  federal hospital in Abuja and he went from roughly 340k a month to just over N1m. Now the state doctors now said since we are all doctors we want the same salary but from time immemorial Federal workers get more than State workers and it is unfair for the doctors to want to blackmail Lagos stateinto paying CONMESS that is not even in the state budget.

Do you know how long it takes to become a consultant, let alone a senior consultant. Abeg go siddon jare.
It's fair when Fashola spends hundreds of millions in dubious and overhyped projects, yet unfair when Doctors demand payment commensurate with their hard work, level of education and work place hazards and trauma.

isuomo:

Today however in Nigeria, we have Jankara and area boy mentality doctors who are in it for the money and nothing else, and until governments in Nigeria starts enforcing things like no work, no pay as it is in UK,  such shenanigans will not stop; if you think these set of doctors are not area boys, how do you explain the federal doctors in Lagos, who went on a 3 day strike since Tuesday, not because of pay, working conditions etc. but wait for this, in solidarity with their colleaagues in the state hospital. Guys this must stop and the first step is to fire these touts and employ doctors.

Newsflash! Of course the money has to play a big part in their decision to work. What will they use to pay their landlords? What will they use to feed their kids? How are they supposed to afford quality education and decent standard of living for their families?
Some of you are saying that if Fashola agrees to their demands, it may lead to others demanding for change. So what? Since when did that become a bad thing? The Nigerian Government at all levels is perfectly happy to suppress the masses while enriching the leaders. if more and more people take matters into their own hands, all it will lead to is more benefit for our democracy.
I shudder to think that you people feel that is a bad thing.

In any decent democratic setting, Fashola would pay a heavy price for his silliness in the 2011 election. But with sheep like you to keep praising your god-messiah-Governor, he will remain insensitive to the plight of the common man.

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. i'm just someone who believes in justice. If you want to hold the Doctors accountable for their oaths, hold Fashola accountable for his oath too!

Fashola no try at all.