Foreign Medical Is Buhari’s Fringe Benefit – Ngige

Dr. Chris Ngige has said that foreign medical treatment is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fringe benefit as a serving president and as a former leader.

Speaking against the background of public disapproval of President Muhammadu Buhari’s resort to London for a medical check-up, the minister of labour said that the president also has his personal right to seek a second opinion on his health.

The labour minister spoke in an interview with The Nation during which he explained that foreign medical was contained as part of Buhari’s fringe benefit as president.

He said: “Buhari has the right to travel for medical abroad for three reasons. Number one, you don’t constraint people on their choice of who will treat them for any ailment or who will be their doctor. That is number one. You have a choice there.

“Buhari is the head of the government of Nigeria and he has a physician attached to him as per the office. And if he runs test or does any diagnosis with his physician, he has a right to what we call ‘Second Opinion’.

“I, Chris Ngige, as small as I am and a medical doctor, I have been doing a Second Opinion on my health in the last 30 years.

Foreign Medical As Buhari’s Fringe Benefit

“The third reason is that Buhari, as a head of government, there are certain perquisites/ perks of office and conditions of service attached to offices and appointments in Nigeria,” he said in asserting that foreign medical is part of Buhari’s fringe benefit as a serving and former Nigerian leader.

“Some government officials and members of the Judiciary have in their appointment free medical treatment at home and abroad there. And the only thing you need to qualify for this is to do what is called Medical Board Evaluation. It is in our government books.

“So, Buhari has been doing Medical Evaluation for himself at home and abroad in the last 40 years, even as an army officer and a former head of state. In fact, all former heads of state, by our books, are entitled to free medical treatment abroad.

“So, the thing Buhari is doing is right.”

Asked why Buhari’s foreign medical was tenable, he said:

“It is because he has been going there in the past 40 years. He has his doctor there. And don’t forget that he has the right of choice.

“It is not because of the state of our hospitals that he went to London. He has been going there for the past 40 years. It is not that.

“It is not a luxury for the President at all. If it is not a luxury for former Presidents, how can it be a luxury for a sitting President. He qualifies on both sides. He is a former head of state and a sitting head of government. So, in all categories, he qualifies,” he said in pointing out that foreign medical was part of Buhari’s fringe benefit as president.

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