President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to appoint
a Surgeon-General of the Federation as demanded
by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), a
competent source in the Presidency, has said.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, made the
disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Thursday in Abuja, that Jonathan gave this
concession after a meeting he summoned to avert
the NMA Jan. 6 planned industrial action.
The source said the person to be appointed to
occupy the position would be a medical doctor.
It will be recalled that one of the demands of the NMA
is that the Federal Government should appoint a
medical doctor as Surgeon-General of the Federation.

The source also said the president had agreed that
the call duty allowance of the doctors running into
billions of naira be paid.
The source said that following the demand of the
association, the appointee would be responsible for
public health.

“The government has taken a decision to appoint a
Surgeon-General of the Federation who will be a
medical doctor and will be responsible for public
health.
“That appointment will be announced soon,’’ the
source said.

The source said Jonathan had directed the Ministry of
Health to collaborate with Ministries of Finance, Trade
and Investment in consulting with medical
practitioners to supporting private investors to build
state-of-the-art hospitals in the country.

The decisions, the source explained, were aimed at
promoting local potential, improving fiscal policy on
medical equipment and checking the growth of
medical tourism.

The source said Jonathan also directed that before
any government official would be allowed to travel
abroad for medicals, government must first be
satisfied that no such medical services exist in
country.

According to the source, the president has also
agreed to reform the National Health Insurance
Scheme to make it more productive.
The source said the president had also consented to
the demand of NMA to make its representation to the
Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

The closed door meeting which was the fourth since
December 2013 was attended by Gov. Emmanuel
Uduaghan of Delta, Ministers of Health and Labour,
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and Chukwuemeka Wogu.
The meeting held at the presidential Villa was also
attended by the Director-General of Budget Office, Dr
Bright Okogu; and the Chairman of the National
Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Chief
Richard Egbule.

It will be recalled that the government had earlier met
another demand by the NMA by re-constituting the
Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

In an interview with State House correspondents
after the meeting Uduaghan had said that the
president conceded some demands by NMA to avert
the strike.
Uduaghan, who did not reveal the concessions, said
that the nation could not afford another strike in the
medical sector.
The governor, who is a medical doctor, said the
government team would later meet with the NMA on
the new development. (NAN)


Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/fg-agrees-appoint-surgeon-general-federation/

Wow... Frontpage!!! Sign of better tinz to come dis year #dancingAwiloLogomba#. My shout out goes to Nonso, Tosco, Abraham, Tosin & Sheriff. Thanks to d mods also.

Awaiting JOHESU's response. They still didn't talk about the skipping. We dey watch.

Guy give d source

Johesu shall respond.... Jonathan wants it in pieces... We shall give it to him..... Rubbish...

.

if you want anything from jonathan this is best time to ask!

Agrees to appoint SG
No sale of refineries
etc
Nlc should please ask for increase in salary and reduction in pump price.... they will get it
2015 things

We also need Area boy-General of the federation with state Parastatals accordin to Association of Nigeria Area boys comprising of agbero,militants,bokos, Aba women(dier head dey touch)

GEJ should beter start making amends with every body this year, because ""HEZ GOING DOWN"". Na prophet talk aam oooooo

I may not be a Jonathan fan but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Strikes everywhere. I am happy the FG is becoming more proactive and responsive.

I LOVE OGA JONAH BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SATISFY EVERY ONE BUT UNFORTUNATELY HUMANS CANNOT BE SATISFIED. WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT FROM A PRESIDENT

MODs, can you pls change the topic from "SGF", as we all know, that SGF is mostly used for the "Secretary to the Government of the Federation".

Okay ...oga Jona ....i see u

sweet development..docs bck to dia rightful place..........most countries have SG..so y nt naija

Funny indeed.

Dats a nice development, kudos 2 mr.president. Tnk God say ASUU own don end. School tinz loading..........

Funny indeed.
Will d SGF replace d minister of health?

...nd some f00lish bigots/APC wil say GEJ does nt give a damn abt us/Nigerians

Have never seen a gov this prone to blackmail. The health sector might be heading for more trouble with this. Who will tell Jona to play his politics right. Let see how things will go sha.

Nice one GEJ,

So what role will the minister of health play in this situation?

It is a good development but let not other sectors who have been bullied into submission come out now to join the bandwagon of demands to the responsive and listening president.

All those who had denied Nigerians basic health care, education , road constructions all these years are now gathered in APC.
Fresh Air is really blowing in PDP

For those asking about the role of the minister of health, do a little research about how the system works in advanced economies.
Use google search.

President Goodluck Jonathan agrees to anything

Good move

Baba Adeboye prophecy is about to be actualized concerning Breakthrough in Medicine.

[size=15pt]Where is Doyin Okupe our new SGF, [/size]

superior1: [size=15pt]Where is Doyin Okupe our new SGF, [/size]

Who? Abeg make u no provoke indefinate strike o.

For all those ignorantly making comments above, this is the way it is obtainable in other countries (do a little research)...

The surgeon general is usually accorded a place even above other ministers....

This is one of d few countries in the world where medical doctors are not rewarded for their hardwork and endless sacrifices

Indeed, this is a welcome development, kudos to Jonathan!