The Lagos State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to look into trade disputes in the health sector.

The Chairman of the association, Dr. Tope Ojo, made the plea at a news conference held in Lagos on Sunday.

“It may, therefore, be disheartening to note that the agreements reached with the Federal Government that led to the suspension of the 2014 NMA general strike remains largely unresolved.

“This inconsistency and default from agreements by government, more often than not, remains one major reason for incessant strike actions in all sectors.

“A recent strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors within the second and third quarters of this year is a result of government failing to implement agreements reached after the strike in 2014.

“We therefore want to appeal to the president to holistically look at these issues with all sense and sincerity and purpose to ensure a lasting solution.”

He said that the current state of the health sector remained poor with falling standards of education including medical education, lack of modern equipment coupled with a poorly motivated and highly unspecialised manpower.

According to him, lack of political will to develop the health sector has led to the increase of many people, including political office holders, to travel abroad for medical treatment.

“We therefore urge the president to direct all political office holders to henceforth seek medical attention in Nigeria and ban them from overseas medical treatment.

“This will be taken as the first signal of seriousness of this regime to reform the health sector.”

Ojo said that the high level of youth unemployment had led to an increased level of crime and other social vices experienced in the country.

He urged the government to regulate tertiary education better in order to achieve world standards and also make education available to the poorest Nigerian from primary to tertiary level.

“The current anti-corruption stand of the president is extremely commendable as this represents the key to building a stable economy.

“We believe that this agenda should be pursued relentlessly and all culpable public office holders should be punished appropriately.” (NAN)

Update news