Go Back To Work, ACN Tells Striking Lagos Doctors

The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has pleaded with Lagos doctors to differentiate between their professional calling and the urge to indulge in frequent agitations that do not help the health sector.

It advises doctors to adopt less combative but more result oriented means of advancing their interests.

In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Joe Igbokwe, the party says it is worried that Lagos doctors have once again embarked on strike, soon after the last prolonged one and warned that the health and interest of Lagosians should not be compromised over the pursuit of restricted group interests.

“When we put into consideration the fact that Lagos doctors are among the best treated and most pampered in Nigeria , we have enough cause to ask what the doctors really want. We are posing this question because with each quick resort to strike, we feel Lagos doctors are putting the health and welfare of Lagosians at risk over flimsy interests.

“We believe that Lagos doctors are equal partners with the Lagos State government in its quest to build a Lagos of our collective dreams and downing tools at the drop of a pin can never be a means of contributing to the growth of Lagos . We urge doctors to be restrained in going on strike or putting forward their group interests for Lagos exists for all. We want to advice doctors to tap into the new Lagos and make their own sacrifices to the good of every Lagosians and not for the doctors’ guild only.

“We call on Lagos doctors to embrace meaningful negotiation with the state government to iron out any grey areas in their terms of engagement with the Lagos State government instead of consistently beating war drums and threatening fire and brimstone. We know Lagos doctors rank as the one of the most catered for among their peers all over the federation and we feel they should reciprocate such gesture of goodwill instead of embarking on frequent strike actions that compromise the health and interests of Lagosians.

“We urge Lagos doctors to go back to work and give the state government sufficient time to resolve any pending issues with them to the best interests of the good people of Lagos .”