President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, and some state governors in Abuja.
The meeting, which held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, was also attended by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
The governors in attendance are Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, Ogun’s Ibikunle Amosun, Atiku Bagudu from Kebbi, and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
However, neither the Senate President nor the governors commented on the purpose of the meeting when it ended.
The meeting held hours after President Buhari received the new executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by the NMA President Dr Francis Adedayo.
The President asked the medical doctors to always see their profession as a divine call, and seek other means other than going on strikes to negotiate better working conditions.
“The medical profession is regarded as a divine call because of the strategic role you play in the lives of human beings,” he said in an earlier statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
President Buhari said the Federal Government was considering an upward review of budgetary allocation to the health sector, in order to improve the quality and access to medical facilities across the country.
He noted that the review of the budgetary allocation would reflect the government’s priority of ensuring that Nigerians get better healthcare, especially in specialised areas.
“The President also commended the NMA and its members on some of the medical successes recorded, such as the separation of conjoined twins, organ transplants, heart surgeries and treatment of cancer patients.
He hinted them that the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council would soon be constituted to further enhance service delivery and regulation of the sector.
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