President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, pleaded with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) not to embark on the proposed strike action of the union.
Buhari urged the doctors to give the Federal Government some time to address their demands and grievances.
The President reached out to the doctors during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) at the State House, Abuja.
A statement was signed to this effect by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The President was quoted to have given the doctors an assurance that no agreements duly entered into by the Federal Government would be dishonoured by his administration.
He called for greater understanding and support from doctors and Nigerians in view of the present decline in national revenue – caused by the declining crude oil prices.
The President said the fall in oil prices had affected the Federal Government’s spending plans for the health sector while promising that his administration would address issues that are of concern to doctors and other Nigerians.
Buhari also disclosed to the NMA delegation that his administration plans to establish 10,000 primary health care centres across the country in the next two years with the objective of providing better health care for about 100 million Nigerians.
The President told the delegation that the National Health Act would soon be gazetted and a steering committee appointed to oversee its implementation.
Buttressing the disclosure, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said the plan to establish more health care centres is “the single most ambitious health plan for the poor in the history of Nigeria”.
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