President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja said successes
recorded in degrading terrorists in the North East will be extended to various
parts of the country experiencing challenges, assuring Nigerians that security
still tops his list of priorities.
President Buhari, who received executive members of the
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by the President, Dr Francis Adedayo
Faduyile, at the State House, said offenders took advantage of the focus on the
North East to commit crimes in other parts of the country.
“If you cannot secure a country or institution, you cannot
manage it,’’ he said
The President noted that efforts were still ongoing to
improve employment level, following the success in getting many into the
agricultural sector, stressing that opening up the economy for investments and
getting the youths engaged will control crime rate.
On health and education, President Buhari urged states and
local governments to play stronger roles in complementing the efforts of the
Federal Government, especially in getting more children into classrooms.
“The issues of health and education are constitutional. If
there are too many almajiris in a state, then the government is not following
the constitution.
“The states also have elites who are educated enough to
remind their governments about their responsibility to almajiris,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the President of the NMA congratulated
President Buhari for winning a second term in office, attributing his return to
efforts made by the government to reposition the country, especially in health
sector, like establishment of a cancer centre in University of Lagos Teaching
Hospital.
Dr. Faduyile commended the President for always looking
towards the NMA to appoint competent members for positions in the health
sector, assuring that the medical association will continue to partner with the
government to bring good health services to Nigerians.
He said there was a need to make the National Health
Insurance Scheme compulsory for all Nigerians, including those in the informal
sector, as some special treatments, like cancer, will require funds that might
be beyond the reach of many.
The NMA President urged the Federal Government to further
strengthen the primary health care system, institute a health bank where
medical professionals can access loans for facilities, remove duties on
imported medical equipment and give more attention to security.
He canvassed that the budget on health should be improved
from 4 per cent to 15 per cent.
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