Lagos doctors begin indefinite strike

Following the decision of the Lagos State government to punish doctors in its service who participated in the three-day warning strike recently, the doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guilds, have embarked on an indefinite strike.The doctors had been summoned to appear before the Personnel Management Board (PMB) on Tuesday, a move the Nigerian Tribune learnt infuriated them, leading to the declaration of an indefinite strike.Some of the doctors who had already been served queries for joining the three-day warning strike observed earlier in the month also declined to appear before the board on Tuesday.At the Health Service Commission, Lagos Island, where the doctors were expected to defend their queries, over 20 armed police officers stood guard at the gates, causing apprehension in the area.The doctors accused the state government of victimisation and called for negotiations over the implementation of agreements reached by the parties in 2011.Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr Olumuyiwa Odusote, said the union decided that no doctor should appear before the committee because 'it is illegal.'He said 'all doctors should go home from this moment and wait for further directives.'The president of the Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) branch, DrSaheed Babajide, said 'so, we say no to the intimidation of doctors because it's unfair.'However, the doctors promised to suspend their action if the state government stopped the alleged victimisation and started negotiations with them.
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