Lagos - Authorities in Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, on Monday dismissed a total of 788 doctors who have been on a pay strike for the past three weeks, an official statement said.
"A total of 788 doctors in the Lagos State Public Service were Monday sacked ... following an illegal strike embarked upon by the doctors since April 16, 2012", the Lagos state government statement said.
It said the firings followed the alleged refusal of the "doctors to answer to queries issued to them to explain why they were absent from work without leave and without the due observance of the rules and regulations guiding strikes".
The government has employed 373 doctors to replace them while more physicians will soon be recruited, it stated.
The doctors gave the state government 24-hour notice instead of the mandatory 15-day notice before a strike is launched, it added.
The doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild launched the strike to press for settlement of alleged unpaid salaries and allowances by the Lagos state government.
Lagos information commissioner Lateef Ibirogba slammed the action of the doctors "sabotage", adding that the government "will not allow that".
Hundreds of Lagos residents on Friday protested at the office of the Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola, over the prolonged strike, which they said has claimed scores of lives.
- SAPA