By Chioma Obinna
LAGOS — Medical doctors under the auspices of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, yesterday, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to resume negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, with a view to ending the sufferings of Nigerians.

The association in a statement by its National President, Dr. Anthony Omolola, observed with great concern, the crippling effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, saying it would have health, economic and social consequences on Nigerians, who are currently living on less than two dollars per day.

Omolola said: “In view of the above and other reasons, we implore and appeal to the Federal Government to put in place, genuine palliative measures that will cushion and reduce the consequences of fuel subsidy removal, on the generality of the people.

“We also implore government to continue dialoguing with the relevant stakeholders, entrepreneurs, professional bodies and good people of Nigeria in a transparent and sincere manner that will make Nigerians have some level of belief and trust in government.”

“There will be a high level of default in clinic and hospital attendance by many Nigerians especially the down-trodden in the cities and rural areas, thereby leading to high incidences of communicable diseases, infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality.”

“Already, many companies have started relocating from Nigeria or dead because of high cost of doing business arising from infrastructural challenges. Also, the artisans and other one-man businesses that earn their meagre earnings through the use of fuel will be comatose. This will worsen the already massive youth unemployment,” he said.