SACKED DOCTORS: COURT INSISTS ON HEARING MATTER

The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos State has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the state government challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit filed by doctors in the state, who were relieved of their jobs recently.  Justice Benedict Kanyip in his verdict yesterday maintained that justice would be done if parties  in the matter were given the chance to address the issues at trial. According to him, though the Medical Guild is not a legal entity, hearing the suit on its merit would give parties  a chance to account  for their actions.

''I think  justice is when parties are given opportunity to address the issue at trial and on merit, and not just to shut-out all enquiries at the preliminary stage as the defendants would want me to do. I hold that this court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues at hand'', he said.

He said the claims of the claimants focused on whether they (doctors) were right to have embarked on strike and whether they have reasonable entitlement in relation to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CON-MESS).

He held that the claimants in their individual capacities could sustain the action, saying, 'The law is clear that an individual has capacity to sue and be sued in  his name and whether the action would succeed should be left for trial''.