President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday
said that because of the importance his
administration attached to the medical
and educational sectors, he was
determined to do all within his powers to
resolve all issues that currently lead to
labour disputes and strikes in both
sectors.
Resident doctors and members of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities are
currently on strike.
Jonathan promised to resolve the labour
crises while granting audience to a
delegation of the Nigeria Medical
Association led by its National President,
Dr. Osahon Enabulele, at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja.
His promise was contained in a statement
issued by his Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, at the
end of the closed-door session.
“I believe that we must manage both
(education and medical) sectors in such a
way that nobody engaged in them will
think of going on strike again. We will
continue to proactively evolve measures
that will help us to permanently
overcome the problems that lead to
strikes by health and education
professionals,” the President was quoted
as saying at the meeting attended by the
Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, Minister
of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu and other
top government officials.
Jonathan reportedly assured the
delegation that his administration would
take necessary actions to ensure that the
right conditions were created for Nigerian
medical professionals to stay at home and
avail Nigerians of their skills and expertise
instead of migrating to other countries.
He said his government was determined
to correct a situation where about 25,000
Nigerian medical consultants were
currently practising in the United States
alone as confirmed to him by President
Barack Obama.
He described as an anomaly a situation
where this huge number of Nigerian
medical experts were abroad and yet the
nation could not treat its sick people in
its own hospitals
He said, “There is clearly a missing link
somewhere and we will do everything
possible to fix it. We will continue to
work with professional bodies and all
stakeholders to come up with more
policies and actions that will help us
overcome current challenges in our
medical sector.
“We will work with the National Assembly
to ensure the quick passage of the
National Health Bill. We will take prompt
action to reconstitute the Medical and
Dental Council of Nigeria. We will also
consider recommendations for the
establishment of the Office of the
Surgeon-General of the Federation.
“I believe that we must always do what is
best for our country. We will review all
the other issues you have raised and act
accordingly. When things are done
properly, issues of welfare and
remuneration in the health sector will
disappear.”
The President also promised that the
Federal Government would explore the
option of creating a special intervention
fund that would facilitate the rapid
establishment of more centres of medical
excellence across the country.

Lie-lie na today!