Nigeria recalls about 800 fired doctors

Lagos - Authorities in Nigeria's
economic capital Lagos said on
Thursday they had recalled all
788 doctors who were
dismissed after they went on
strike over pay.
The doctors, including
consultants and specialists,
were fired on 07 May after
going on strike on 16 April.
Authorities said the strike was
illegal.
But Lagos state governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola said on
Thursday the medics would be
reinstated after a myriad of
appeals from politicians,
residents and civil society
groups.
"We cannot ignore these
appeals. ... Therefore the issue
of dismissal [of the doctors] is
suspended immediately," he
said in a televised interview.
The chairperson of the
Nigerian Medical Association in
Lagos, Dr Edamisan Temiye,
said he was unaware of the
recall.
"I heard the news just like any
other person. We have not
been officially informed of the
development," he said.
The doctors launched the
strike to press for settlement
of alleged unpaid salaries and
allowances by the Lagos state
government.
The strike crippled health care
services for more than six
weeks in Lagos public hospitals
and residents piled pressure
on the government to rescind
its decision.
Source: News24.com