December 14, (THEWILL) – Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of Public Health Concern Group have called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to stop the proposed Health Compact Agreement between the Lagos State Governor and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The group, which staged a protest at the Assembly Complex, said the protest was to express its displeasure towards the proposed health compact agreement by some governors with WHO without letting the public know the contents of the policy.
Members of the group, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “We Say No To WHO Compact Agreement,” and “Abortion Kills Children”, among others, urged the Lagos Assembly to prevent the Lagos State Government from signing the agreement as, according to it, the contents of the agreement is not known to the public.
Speaking with journalists, the Leader of the group, Ambassador Kolawole Princess, frowned at the method adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) towards signing the Health Compact Agreement without the disclosure of the contents of the agreement.
She urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to, as a matter of urgent importance, swing into action and stop all forms of secret health policy and agreement that may be signed by the government without public disclosure and scrutiny as it may affect the lives of girl-child and women in the society.
“We believe we should inform the Lagos Assembly because we know we have capable hands there to checkmate the signing of health policy contents of which were not made public by the government, to protect our children and the children yet unborn,” she said.
Responding to the submission of the petition, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who was represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ogunleye Richard, assured the protesters of prompt action by the House in taking up issues of public importance with the executive.
He assured that the Lagos State Government will not sign any agreement that will jeopardise the health of Lagosians.
“We have heard you. We identified with you and we recognise what you stand for and that you presented to us this morning,” he said.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
