LAGOS — Indications emerged, weekend, that some of the 788 doctors sacked by the Lagos State government are now lobbying to get reinstated.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that some of the doctors have started responding to the queries they had earlier refused to respond to. They are banking on the support of top officials in the ministry to influence their reinstatement.

An impeccable source from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, disclosed to Vanguard that some of the doctors that are making moves under ground confessed that they were already tired of staying at home as they have mouths to feed and bills to pay.

The source who pleaded anonymity, further noted that top officials within the ministry were still considering using their influence to get the doctors reinstated.

It was also gathered that the doctors’ request might be granted since even the ministry have been having challenge recruiting new doctors.

Currently, many of the doctors were not happy with the recalcitrant position of their leaders on their agitation but were cooperating in order not to rock the boat of the struggle.

“Even the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele is not happy with position of the Medical Guild on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, issue but he is afraid that he might be impeached if he fails to dance to the tune of the doctors. I had a meeting with him last Thursday when he confided in me,” the source said.

According to him, the elders in the medical profession were not happy with the way the sacked doctors have turned strikes into object of blackmail, saying they were ready to call strikes at the slightest provocation, stating: “Even if you mistakenly hit one of them on the leg, they may decide to call for as strike.”

It’s an attempt to break our ranks - Odusote

But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of the Lagos Medical Guilds, the umbrella body of the sacked doctors, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, described the insinuation that the doctors were lobbying to get reinstated by the state government as a blatant lie, saying “it is an attempt to break our ranks.”

AGPMPN begins free health services

Meanwhile, Chairman Association of General Private Medical Practitioners, AGPMPN, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Olayinka Oladosu has announced at the weekend that beginning from today, the association would start offering free health services especially emergency cases to residents of Lagos carrying the cards of public hospitals following the total collapse of health services in public hospitals across the state.

He said: “We have about 84 centres across the state where people can access free health across the state. The information at our disposal about loss of lives is alarming and we are grieving about this. These are the lives we cannot create. We believe the provision of this service will provide succor to the masses.”

Oladosu said the AGPMPN, Lagos State Branch would not seat back and go against the Hippocratic Oath that its members had sworn to. “The association is not forcing any of its members to create this succour lines. Similarly, no one is forcing the AGPMPN to do it.”

Giving a breakdown of the facility created to address the problem of total shut down of public health facilities in Lagos; Oladosu said there would be an average of seven centres to serve as succor lines in each local government in Lagos State.

Explaining why this plan became necessary, the National President of AGPMPN, Dr. Anthony Omolola described the situation in Lagos as a period of sober reflection. “It is a time to sympathise with Lagosians,”

According to Omolola, the information at the disposal of the leadership of the AGPMPN is that the loss of lives this period is quite alarming and is grieving members of the association because “We cannot make life and we should not make life to be departed.”



www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/sacked-lagos-doctors-lobby-for-reinstatement/

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna
LAGOS — Indications emerged,
weekend, that some of the 788 doctors
sacked by the Lagos State government
are now lobbying to get reinstated.
Investigations by Vanguard revealed that
some of the doctors have started
responding to the queries they had
earlier refused to respond to. They are
banking on the support of top officials in
the ministry to influence their
reinstatement.
An impeccable source from the Lagos
State Ministry of Health, disclosed to
Vanguard that some of the doctors that
are making moves under ground
confessed that they were already tired of
staying at home as they have mouths to
feed and bills to pay.
The source who pleaded anonymity,
further noted that top officials within the
ministry were still considering using
their influence to get the doctors
reinstated.
It was also gathered that the doctors’
request might be granted since even the
ministry have been having challenge
recruiting new doctors.
Currently, many of the doctors were not
happy with the recalcitrant position of
their leaders on their agitation but were
cooperating in order not to rock the
boat of the struggle.
“Even the Nigerian Medical Association,
NMA, National President, Dr. Osahon
Enabulele is not happy with position of
the Medical Guild on the Consolidated
Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, issue
but he is afraid that he might be
impeached if he fails to dance to the
tune of the doctors. I had a meeting with
him last Thursday when he confided in
me,” the source said.
According to him, the elders in the
medical profession were not happy with
the way the sacked doctors have turned
strikes into object of blackmail, saying
they were ready to call strikes at the
slightest provocation, stating: “Even if
you mistakenly hit one of them on the
leg, they may decide to call for as strike.”
It’s an attempt to break our ranks -
Odusote
But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of
the Lagos Medical Guilds, the umbrella
body of the sacked doctors, Dr.
Olumuyiwa Odusote, described the
insinuation that the doctors were
lobbying to get reinstated by the state
government as a blatant lie, saying “it is
an attempt to break our ranks.”
AGPMPN begins free health services
Meanwhile, Chairman Association of
General Private Medical Practitioners,
AGPMPN, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Olayinka
Oladosu has announced at the weekend
that beginning from today, the
association would start offering free
health services especially emergency
cases to residents of Lagos carrying the
cards of public hospitals following the
total collapse of health services in public
hospitals across the state.
He said: “We have about 84 centres
across the state where people can
access free health across the state. The
information at our disposal about loss of
lives is alarming and we are grieving
about this. These are the lives we cannot
create. We believe the provision of this
service will provide succor to the
masses.”
Oladosu said the AGPMPN, Lagos State
Branch would not seat back and go
against the Hippocratic Oath that its
members had sworn to. “The association
is not forcing any of its members to
create this succour lines. Similarly, no
one is forcing the AGPMPN to do it.”
Giving a breakdown of the facility
created to address the problem of total
shut down of public health facilities in
Lagos; Oladosu said there would be an
average of seven centres to serve as
succor lines in each local government in
Lagos State.
Explaining why this plan became
necessary, the National President of
AGPMPN, Dr. Anthony Omolola described
the situation in Lagos as a period of
sober reflection. “It is a time to
sympathise with Lagosians,”
According to Omolola, the information at
the disposal of the leadership of the
AGPMPN is that the loss of lives this
period is quite alarming and is grieving
members of the association because
“We cannot make life and we should not
make life to be departed.”
Sh

Shared compromise is still the way forward, if the doctors respond to the queries, LASG should take them back like a prodigal worker.

emiye: Shared compromise is still the way forward, if the doctors respond to the queries, LASG should take them back like a prodigal worker.

Personally, I think they should be prosecuted for murder

I know it won't take these arrogant mofos 2 months to come begging.

Now, where are the rats promising brime stone and fire? Dem dey tell mad man say rain dey fall? Bunch of murdering scums.

NEXT

Mynd_44:
Personally, I think they should be prosecuted for murder

they should be jailed for life for killing innocent souls while abandoning their duty post. as if they are the only one saving lifes, what about the military risking life to protect those mofos and other nigeria what should happen to them also. stupid doctors. murderers in white blazer

The story is incomplete without the list of the private hospitals that are to provide free treatment. Get the list and publish it complete with the a dresses and contact phone numbers. If people do not know how to access this free service then it is pure propaganda.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA bunch of specialized scally wags. Now they know better.

allycat: The story is incomplete without the list of the private hospitals that are to provide free treatment. Get the list and publish it complete with the a dresses and contact phone numbers. If people do not know how to access this free service then it is pure propaganda.

True talk dude

This piece is pure propaganda. The Drs begging is nonsense. The 84 private hospitals is either a lie or the whole government declarations that all the hospitals are working is is a fat lie.
Time will tell
Let them print the names of hospitals rather than rant

allycat: The story is incomplete without the list of the private hospitals that are to provide free treatment. Get the list and publish it complete with the a dresses and contact phone numbers. If people do not know how to access this free service then it is pure propaganda.

seconded

This story doesn't ring true. Sounds like a media plant.

Sacked Lagos doctors decry N33.4m financial shortfall from CONMESS
On May 21, 2012 • In Special Report
2:06 am
Email0
As health services remain grounded in Federal and state hospitals in Lagos in the wake of an indefinite strike by doctors, doctors under the auspices of the Medical Guild have decried a monthly financial shortfall of N33, 477, 508.00 in the implementation of the full Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, in Lagos state even as they are alleging they were tricked into entering agreement with the state government.

Findings by Vanguard showed that the sum in question includes the total financial shortfall from the monthly wage package of the 1,282 doctors under the Lagos state Health Service Commission and the 98 honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.

It was gathered that the shortfall, which the doctors are claiming was part of the initial calculation of the CONMESS as approved by the state government, is currently the bone of contention in the ongoing industrial dispute in the State’s health sector which culminated in the sacking of 788 doctors on May 4.
The doctors are alleging that the Lagos state government reneged in an agreement in which it committed to implement the full payment of the CONMESS as calculated and presented to Governor Babatunde Fashola who approved its implementation. It would be recalled that the Lagos state government through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, had repeatedly insisted that the state was already paying the full CONMESS, level-for-level, and challenged the Medical Guild to prove otherwise.

Commenting on the development, Secretary of the Medical Guild, Dr. Idris Durojaiye said the monthly financial shortfall per doctor ranged from N9, 371.20 for the lowest ranked House Officer on Level 10, to N70, 950.00 for the highest ranked honorary Chief Consultant on Level 17.

In an exclusive interview, Durojaiye told Vanguard that the shortfall was part of the original amount approved for the doctors but was never paid as stated in the said agreement.
His words: “It was full CONMESS that was approved, but it is not being paid now. The shortfall is the amount that was cut off. Our initial calculation contained this shortfall and was part of the agreement presented to the Governor and was approved. But the government never paid up as agreed.”

Further, he stated: “When there is a new salary scale, the principle of unilateral conversion takes place. If you are on a certain step on one level in one salary scale, you are expected to transit to the same step and level in the new salary scale, but the state government has not done that. They did not follow the agreement but have dropped people in steps.

“Apart from the matter of Teaching Allowances and entry points, the issue of demotion of doctors through the dropping of steps is a major issue. When the agreement was signed, it was agreed we wouldn’t be at comparative disadvantage. We talked about no compression, but they did not do that. They tricked us.”
The Medical Guild Secretary said the CONMESS was designed to achieve was to set a minimum benchmark across the Federation and to prevent internal and external brain drain within the medical profession. “It would keep everyone on the same baseline and at their jobs wherever they are in the country. It would also prevent external brain drain as any improvement in wages would keep people in their countries.”

Giving a rundown of the genesis of the dispute, Durojaiye recalled that the Medical Guild had been agitating for full implementation of the CONMESS since 2009 and had made several representations to the state government on the matter.

“In November 2011, the Lagos State Government agreed to pay CONMESS as approved in the Federal Government Circular SWC/S/04/S.410/220 released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. This document specifically indicated government’s acceptance to pay and also not to place Lagos State doctors at any disadvantage whatsoever relative to their colleagues anywhere else in the country.”

According to Durojaiye, the government later rescinded on the agreement but an agreement was finally signed in March 2011 between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild to implement CONMESS in full.

With reference to a letter, LGS/HOS/06/Vol.VI/30 dated November 19,2010 from the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe to the Chairman of the Medical Guild, Durojaiye argued that government committed to full implementation of the CONMESS. He pointed out a section of the letter entitled: “Re: Medical/Dental Officers Salary Review” which read as follows….”that with effect from January 2011, government will implement a mutually agreeable wage review which will not put doctors in Lagos state hospitals at a comparative disadvantage to their counterparts in other health institutions.”

A copy of the second agreement dated March 24, 2011, entitled: “Re: Agreement With The Medical Guild”, which was made available to Vanguard reads as follows: “On March 24, 2011, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the doctors regarding the ongoing strike and an agreement had been reached. During the meeting the following points were agreed by both parties: (i) payment of CONMESS salary in full (no compression) to all doctors; (ii) one month salary bonus; (iii) allowances will be classified as non-taxable. i.e., no taxes will be deducted on these allowances (iv) Further welfare packages will be developed to improve working conditions for all healthcare providers within the state.”

The agreement which was signed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman Henry Ajomale and Dr. Jide Idris, further noted that: “Based on their dialogue and agreement, it is expected that the Medical Guild will meet with their Congress and call off the strike soonest.”

According to Durojaiye, the agreement included the cost of implementing CONMESS in full. “The Medical Guild suspended its strike action in good faith, despite the earlier reneging of the Lagos State government, in order to allow implementation of the agreement.

“However, the Lagos State Government failed to honour the agreement and chose to implement the salary structure the way it wanted. For the past one year, the Medical Guild has been writing, meeting and pleading with government to correct the shortfall in implementation of CONMESS, but government chose to shift and default on its promises,” he stressed.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/sacked-lagos-doctors-decry-n33-4m-financial-shortfall-from-conmess/

I am just a little bit worried that the doctors left their patients to die just becuase of the paltry sums of between 9k and 70k.

coal_coal:
seconded

I think you guys are not being realistic. If you are doctors I will advise you quickly answer your queries to position yourself strategically.

The doctors are fighting a lost battle. Unfortunately they have abused the instrument of strike and have made nuisance of their esteemed profession.

They were not smart enough to know that by not answering their queries, they have inadvertently allowed the politicians to hold them in a corner and yet could not eat the humble pie to retreat and continue the fight through internal pallying with the government.

Head or tail, the government has won. Should they ever get their jobs back, they can never complain again at least till the end of Governor Fashola's administration.

My advise is answer your queries, you can use the sworn Hippocratic vow as an excuse and Lagosians will understand.

For everyday the strike continues, the hatred for Lagos state doctors increases from the populist.

The damage being created by the doctors now will need massive and continuous image laundering to restore.

Please don't expect victims of this strike to forgive you easily.

Be humble, answer your queries and remember you can never be bigger than your employers as long as you are still under their employment.

Good luck!

This is what health care in nigeria has been reduced to. I bet fashola would not have taken this hardline before the last general election. That does not exonerate the striking doctors of any mischief as it plays out. Both parties are just being insensitive.

eleven:

I think you guys are not being realistic. If you are doctors I will advise you quickly answer your queries to position yourself strategically.

The doctors are fighting a lost battle. Unfortunately they have abused the instrument of strike and have made nuisance of their esteemed profession.

They were not smart enough to know that by not answering their queries, they have inadvertently allowed the politicians to hold them in a corner and yet could not eat the humble pie to retreat and continue the fight through internal pallying with the government.

Head or tail, the government has won. Should they ever get their jobs back, they can never complain again at least till the end of Governor Fashola's administration.

My advise is answer your queries, you can use the sworn Hippocratic vow as an excuse and Lagosians will understand.

For everyday the strike continues, the hatred for Lagos state doctors increases from the populist.

The damage being created by the doctors now will need massive and continuous image laundering to restore.

Please don't expect victims of this strike to forgive you easily.

Be humble, answer your queries and remember you can never be bigger than your employers as long as you are still under their employment.

Good luck!

Brilliant!

May god help them

Hunger don dey cash dem.......The Nigerian version of 'Doctors Without Borders'--- 'Doctors Without Employment' has just been established.:-D

AjanleKoko: This story doesn't ring true. Sounds like a media plant.

Bros good morning. You can never be too sure.

Remember this is Nigeria where a larger percentage of us are naturally selfish.

I can bet that as the strike is on some people are already doing what they ought to have done earlier... Answering their queries respectfully, lobbying and hoping they will be recalled.

There are no jobs and there are so many doctors looking for the same opportunities the current ones are wasting away.

Is just a matter of time before the doctors realise they have been fighting a lost battle all along. Just a matter of time...

Good one!!

Same thing should be done to Nupeng and Pengassan... TUCN and NLC as well... We have young Nigerians who are willing to take over.. These old farts make outrageous demands and use the unions for selfish reasons rather than for what it was formed to achieve..

Lagos drs are ingrate wat ll d drs in my state do when dey only collect less dan 60k as salary.

I knew it was still gonna come to this, m sure not all of them supported the strike but they had no choice than to dance to the tune of their union leaders. I heard the wise ones that replied the queries just before the indefinite strike kept their means of livelihood.

kheart: Lagos drs are ingrate wat ll d drs in my state do when dey only collect less dan 60k as salary.

Please which state is that? I really don't think any state pays doctors less than 60k

Abeg what's with these selfish comments laced with envy?

Being a doctor is a profession, just like every other. And if the dividends do not match up with the amount of work that went into creating a doctor or the work is just not worth it, they have the right to decide not to work for that employer or to even cease to be a doc. Or retire to their own private business.

And if truthfully, it is very easy for the Government to roll out medical professionals that are satisfied with the current work environment, then they should carry go.

Enough of this whining.

In fact all these people shouting "docs are greedy" would do worse if they were in the same situation.

And also enough of these stu.pid news stories that could have been written by my 4 year old kid.

Hehehehhehehehehehe! I laff in pidgin.did I just see "lobbying" in dat story Is dis a question of "had I known" or are they going bk to their vomit?
Shame!!! Even if lagos state govt reinstates dem,it won't be bizness as usuaal cos I'm sure dey wil be made to sign very strict undertakings which may prevent dem frm batting an eyelid wen nxt a pressing issue dat requires anoda "strike" arises.

jedisco:

Please which state is that? I really don't think any state pays doctors less than 60k

He probably meant the doctors working in private hospitals. Those that did not have the opportunity of a residency programme even 5years after graduating from college.

Mynd_44:
Personally, I think they should be prosecuted for murder

gbam

Two wrongs can neva make a right. There is just on captain to a ship, guess some of them r nw ready to obey their employer. They r even unaware dt some graduated many years bk n their salary is still below 100k, here they are collectin well over 100k for a start n not being appreciative. Guess dey dnt knw wht it means to be jobless.

If I was Fashola, I would take them back on the following terms:

- They will be employed at the grade below their previous level and with its corresponding pay. Anyone that was at the entry grade would hence spend an extra year at that grade and pay.

- They are all on two year probation/contract. Hence if you take the offer and then start to cause trouble or be non-cooperative you would get the boot easily.

- Any ineterested person has to sign the punitive contract within 2 weeks.

All those of u shouting against and cursing the doctors are very very silly. The real person that is orchestrating the destruction of the health sector is the government. But as foolish nigerians yáll are too blind, or simply too dumb to realise that it is actually the govt that has driven away the doctors. But guess what, doctors can never be hungry. and the more chaotic the health sector becomes, they more private jobs for the doctors. The lagos state govt shld swallow its stupid pride and do what its constitutionally mandated to do. Driving away all medical personnel does not help anybody