Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Friday, held crucial meeting with stakeholders to avert the proposed indefinite strike by the Nigerian Medical Association.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the House discussed issues affecting the health sector.
Dr Ajibayo Adeyeye, the Majority Leader, while addressing the medical practitioners, appealed to them to resolve the issue without resulting to strike as it would affect the lives of citizens.
Adeyeye said the Lagos State Government could not afford to lose patients at this crucial time when it had committed huge amount to rehabilitation and reconstruction of hospitals.
The Leader urged the Federal Government to listen to the plights of members of the association with a view to finding solution to their problems.
He said “we cannot afford another strike in the health sector.
“One minute of strike in the health sector by whatever body can be very disastrous to the state”.
The majority leader also told the doctors that the House was considering a law that would put a stop on any impending strike.
He added that “the ripple effect of strike is greater in Lagos as the population in the state cannot be compared with others”.
Mr Suuru Avoseh, the Chairman, Committee on Health Services, charged the Lagos NMA and the government representatives to have a cordial relationship on how to resolve their differences.
“We should join hands together to do everything humanly possible to ensure that our hospitals are not shut down”, he said.
Avoseh, however, proposed that regular meetings be held between the House, medical professionals and government to address major challenges facing the sector.
Earlier, Mr Francis Faduyi, the Chairman, NMA Lagos State branch, said poor funding and remuneration of doctors were some of the problems.
Faduyi said the National Executive Council of the NMA would meet in Abuja on Saturday and the outcome of the meeting would determine if they would join the strike or not.
