Press Releases

Strike Call-Off By Medical Guild Members: Fashola Commends Doctors

Jan 7, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday commended doctors in the State Government hospitals for calling off their two-day strike, saying the gesture was a sign of commitment on their part to work with his administration for the generality of the people of Lagos State.

Members of the State’s Medical Guild who commenced a strike on Monday, called it off yesterday amidst appeals from the State Government and other well meaning citizens of the state.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja shortly after his arrival from Ghana, Governor Fashola reiterated that this times call for sacrifice and commitment instead of lockouts in order to ensure the realization of the objectives of the 2009 Budget.

“I commend the doctors for responding to our appeal. This time, as I said, calls for sacrifice and not lockouts”, the Governor said, adding, “To implement the 2009 Budget requires everybody’s commitment. As I said, it will address those conditions that provoke strike”.

Commenting on the inauguration of the new President of Ghana, Governor Fashola declared, “The election has come and gone in Ghana. Democracy has taken place and the people of Ghana have shown that they can choose their leaders. The party that has taken the reign of power ceded it about eight years ago and now it has it back. It means that there can actually be a revolving devolution of power clearly predicated on the peoples’ mandate”.

According to him, “The people had gone with one party before and now want to go with the other. This is democracy. But beyond that, there is now democratization which is governance”, adding that the absence of dictatorship does not on its own translate to prosperity.

“This is where we hope to work with all men of good will to ensure that this success story reaches its peak which is to add value to the life of the people”, the Governor said.

On the lesson which the transition in Ghana has for Nigeria, Governor Fashola declared, “The lesson for us is to see it as a challenge, to rise up to the challenge in the way we have risen up to challenges from Ghana in terms of Sports, in terms of the Economy. This is the time for us to rise up as big brother to do better than this when the time comes for us to respond”.