Jonathan Sacks Striking Doctors

Striking resident doctors across federal hospitals in Nigeria have been sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan, reports reaching our desk indicate.

The action was taken following the present challenge biting hard on the country and the health sector, ostensibly over the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.

In a letter issued on Wednesday by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Honourable L N Awute, Jonathan directed that the termination of the striking doctors’ appointments should take “immediate effect.”

Military doctors have been asked to be redeployed to the hospitals pending the replacement of the sacked doctors.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the residency training programme for doctors in Nigeria indefinitely for the purposes of appraising the challenges facing the health sector.

“In line with the above, the Honourable Minister has directed that you issue letters of termination of Residency Training appointment to the affected Resident Doctors in your Hospital immediately.

“The Board of Management is to take all necessary measures to immediately restore full medical services in your hospital. Note however this is without prejudice to the employment of Locum Physicians on six months renewable contract tied to productivity and good behaviour,” the letter disclosed.

Meanwhile, as at the time of publishing this report, Aproko247 was unable to get through to the Lagos State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Babatunde Bamigboye, for comments on the latest development.

More details later.