Lagos government denies owing doctors

The Lagos state government has refuted the allegation that it owes doctors working for the state.

Doctors working in the state’s hospitals last week protested against the non-payment of their salaries for two months.

Reacting to the development, the Lagos state government on Sunday said that it had always paid the salaries of all its employees, doctors inclusive, when due.

It also explained that the complaint by doctors referred to July and August 2014 when they went on strike, adding that their salaries were not paid in accordance with the government’s policy of “No Work, No Pay”.

“Government also recalled, with regrets, that the period of the doctors’ strike unfortunately coincided with the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos state and all entreaties to the striking doctors to see reasons and call off the strike were ignored,” Lateef Ibirogba, commissioner for information and strategy, said in a statement.

MO Salako, chairman, health service commission, and O. Williams, chairman, Lagos state university teaching hospital, who signed the statement, said the state government promptly resumed payment of salaries of the doctors since they resumed work.

“The state government’s policy of “No Work, No Pay” is still in force; the policy was informed by the fact that it was unjustifiable for any worker to be paid for work not done.

“Any group of its employees that embarks on strike in contravention of the laid-down procedures governing such actions would be so treated for the period of strike.”

The statement assured all citizens of the administration’s commitment to its responsibilities of protecting life and property in the state at all times, but reiterated that ‘Government’s policy of No work, No pay’ remains in force, meaning “you cannot be paid for work not done”.