Employment: Fashola may raise supplementary budget

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos may approach the state House of Assembly for a supplementary budget to enable the state employ fresh blood into its health system.

It is not certain for now how much the governor would be seeking the House approval for. The state 2014 budget still being implemented is N489.690 billion.

Fashola hinted of the likelihood of the supplementary budget, Thursday, at the 2nd convocation of the Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba, where he announced automatic employment for 265 graduands.

ccording to the governor, part of what the government has been doing, is human resource development, adding that while the government continues to invest in hospital infrastructure, the graduands must complement this effort by committing themselves saving lives.

“What we build in hospitals is what people see, but what people do not see is the infrastructure of the mind (the graduands),”
He said, “Medical workers from the lowest medical worker to the highest in the chain of command and the team, you are like gods on earth. Only sick people and I have been ill know your importance.”

Fashola pointed that workers in other sectors of the nation’s economy though not equally satisfied with their remuneration, are not holding the system down by incessant strikes, wondering why those in the health sector would often resort to strike despite the crucial role they play in life sustenance.

Speaking to the new graduands, Fashola said, “What delights me most is that we are producing graduates in areas where the Lagos economy has a compelling need, the primary healthcare, the primary healthcare development.

“We are producing graduates who will help us achieve our objectives. Therefore in order to show that we are ready to work our talk I have indicated and now say publicly that all of the graduating students today will be immediately employed by our government. We will work the process. We will go to the House of Assembly if it is necessary to raise supplementary budget to funds this. I make this commitment to you as a matter of honour.”

A total of 265 students for 2012/2013 academic session graduated from the college from School of Environment Health, School of Community Health, School of Medical Laboratory Technician, School of Pharmacy Technician, and School of Information Management.