 President Mohamed Bawari Friday called on health workers to return to their duty posts. He also urged others contemplating strikes to opt for settlement of issues by negotiation no matter how long it takes. The president made the appeal when he hosted members of Niger Medical Association NMA at the State House of Buja on Friday. According to the president, the lives of citizens that can be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services are precious enough to be worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences. Bawari said that all outstanding benefits owed to medical doctors would be cleared after verification. He adds that embarking on industrial action at a critical health period for the country and citizens was not a good option. This visit comes at a time of great challenges in the health sector as we are working to resolve an industrial action which commenced since 2nd of August. I am pleased to learn of the positive role the Niger Medical Association has been playing, the AFFECS Association for Medical Doctors and Dentists in Nigeria, especially with regard to the ongoing strike action. This is befitting of the Nigerian Medical Association as a mature umbrella organization led by such highly experienced professionals. I can assure you therefore that deaths genuinely owed health workers will be second. The commitment of our government to find a durable solution to all outstanding issues cannot also be in doubt. I am also aware of consultations which the vice president had with the NMA officials on Wednesday 1st September and with representatives of the resident doctors on Friday 3rd September owed in a bid to find a common ground and get everybody back to work. Your keen interest in immunization and improvement of immunization coverage in the country and overall turnaround of some of the nation's health facilities, the 7.1 million life project, the improvement of different health agencies and parameters are worthy of mention.