Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday insisted that his government would still apply the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on the striking doctors in public hospitals.

He also said he was very fulfilled and happy to take his exit from governance because he has succeeded in delivering all electoral promises made to the people in eight years.

Fashola spoke at the commissioning of the newly built cardiac and renal centre at Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos.

He disclosed that the state government was not owing any doctor his legitimately earned salary but the decision not to pay striking workers is not a policy of his government “but one that was enacted by a Federal Act”.

Fashola explained that the said salary which the doctors were demanding was not earned and so not legitimate.

“Doctors should understand that the issue about doctors who go on strike is not my choice. It is a provision of the Trade Dispute Act. It prescribes very clearly that if people go on strike, they will not be entitled to pay.

“They must also understand that the period when they went on strike was when we had Ebola. That was when we needed them most.

“That was the period when doctors who have no stake in this country, foreigners, came to serve. Those who own this country did not serve and so, we did not owe them for any period they went on strike,” he stated.

The governor, however, emphasised that “the doctors know we have paid them for January and February and by the policy on ground, we will pay them for March up to the period that they stopped working.”

He therefore appealed to the striking doctors to return to work, warning that “otherwise, we will be compelled again to apply the law. They just cannot get paid for work that they did not do.”

Fashola revealed that the Cardiac Centre built by government was being managed by a team of concessionaire, Tamda Renescor, who won the bid for five years, renewable on performance.

•Adapted from a Daily Independent report. Photo shows Governor Fashola.

Update news