The group is giving Governor Fashola a week ultimatum to resolve the crisis in the health crisis
A coalition of 18 civil groups has given the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, seven days to accede to the striking doctors' demands or resign.
Sina Odugbemi, the coordinator of Civil Society Intervention Group, warned the government to be prepared for mass civil action after the expiration of the ultimatum. He said the group was acting to preserve the lives of Lagos residents, who are victims of the doctors' strike, which is going to its third month. "We demand for the resignation of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola if he cannot accede to these demands within seven days or he should be very ready for mass civil actions," he said. "People are dying every day. A responsible government will not allow its hospitals to be under lock for over 10 weeks, and we are also fighting for ourselves too, because society that cannot guarantee the health of its people is not a good society to live in."
‘We gave them time to settle'
Some of the civil society groups which came together to form the coalition include Campaign Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL); Democracy Volunteers; Campaign for Democracy; Feed Nigeria Initiative; and the African Renaissance Coalition. Although this action is seen in some quarters as belated, as it is coming over two months into the ongoing crisis in the state's health sector, Mr Odugbemi defended the coalition's action, saying the it is coming after their initial faith in the two parties waned. "We have been watching the two bodies concerned; the government and the doctors' union, and we felt they were matured to sort out things," he said. "But after 10 weeks, we realised these people can't sort out the issue, and the implication is that people will die every day if the two people refuse to sit down; it may be anybody's turn tomorrow."
Read more:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Health/5638718-147/groups_give_fashola_ultimatum_over_doctors.csp
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