Doctors begged by to shelve planned strike, promises to honour “valid agreements”

By: Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appealed to members of the National Association of Resident Doctors to shelve their planned industrial action and give the Federal Government more time to address their grievances.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President made the appeal at a meeting he had with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari reportedly gave the doctors an assurance that no agreements duly entered into by the Federal Government will be dishonoured by his administration.

The President called for greater understanding and support from doctors and all Nigerians in view of the present short fall in national revenue brought about by the decline of crude oil prices.

The statement added, “Decrying the adverse impact of the fall in oil prices on the Federal Government’s spending plans for health and other sectors, President Buhari said that his administration will continue to do its best to address issues that are of concern to doctors and other Nigerians.

“The President also gave the NMA delegation an insight into his administration’s plan to establish 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country in the next two years with the objective of providing better healthcare for about 100 million Nigerians.

“He also told the delegation led by NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe, that the National Health Act will soon be gazetted and a steering committee appointed to oversee its implementation.”

The Minister of Health , Prof. Isaac Adewol,  described the plan to establish more healthcare centres as “the single most ambitious health plan for the poor in the history of Nigeria.”

Obembe was quoted to have called for the implementation of the report of the Yayale Ahmed Committee on better relations among professional groups in the health sector.

The NMA President also called for fast-tracking of the implementation of the National Health Act.

At a separate meeting with the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Buhari promised that his administration will evolve and implement measures to curb friction and disharmony among the professional groups in the health sector.