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Court stops doctors’ sackThe National Industrial Court (NIC) yesterday, stopped Chief Medical Directors of Federal Government hospitals from terminating the appointments of resident doctors.
Justice Babatunde Adejumon, President of the NIC, gave the order yesterday while ruling on an application filed by the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Those joined as respondents in the matter include the Chief Medical Directors of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.
Others were the Medical Directors of Federal Medical Centres in Asaba, Azare, Bida, Birnin-Kebbi, Birnin Kudu, Gombe, Keffi, Gusau, Ido-Ekiti, Katsina, Lokoja, Makurdi, Owerri, Owo, Umuahia, Yenegoa, Yola, Ebute Metta, Lagos and Yobe states respectively. The judge ordered the parties to stop further action on the dispute pending the determination of the suit filed by the resident doctors.
On the issue of suspension of residency training programme for doctors, the court directed the doctors to put all the respondents on notice, saying the issue would be better addressed when parties joined issues in the matter.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Adejumon said: “I have gone through the Motion Exparte, the affidavit in support as well as the written address. In respect of prayer one (suspension of training programme), it is my belief that it will be better addressed when parties join issues on the issues raised in the Motion on Notice.
“On the second prayer (termination of appointments), it is the order of the court that since there is yet to be proof that the order has been carried out, the 3rd to 39th respondents (chief medical directors) are hereby restrained either by themselves, agents, privies or any other person from serving members of the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Medical Association with any letter of termination if same had not been served on them before today (August 25, 2014).”
The resident doctors had in their motion dated August 18, 2014 and filed by Mr. Alex Akoja from the law firm of Yusuf Ali (SAN), sought an order restraining the respondents and their privies from giving effect to the directive in an August 13 letter suspending the residency training programme for doctors pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The resident doctors also asked the court for an interim injunction restraining the respondents from issuing letters of terminating their appointments.
In an 19-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by one Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, a medical practitioner, he stated that over 10 years ago, the claimant (NMA) had different disputes with the Federal Government on the latter’s alleged failure to develop health institutions in the country in line with global best practice.
He stressed that unless the Federal Government was stopped from sacking the doctors, healthcare delivery in the country would worsen.
After granting the order, Adejuwon adjourned hearing of the suit till September 17.
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