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Lara Adejoro
The Delta State Government has commenced the payment of the new hazard allowance for health workers in the state.
This was disclosed in a communique issued at the end of the August 2022 National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association held in Gombe State and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.
The communique was signed by the association’s President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, and its Secretary- General, Dr. Jide Onyekwelu.
The PUNCH reports that Delta State is the first to commence the payment of the new hazard allowance for health workers in the country.
The Federal Government, in December 2021, increased the hazard allowance applicable to health workers in its healthcare facilities across the country.
The increment was contained in a circular with reference SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406, dated December 22, 2021, from the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
The circular read in part, “Concerning the review of the hazard allowance applicable to health workers in the services of the federal hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in ministries, departments and agencies.
“The hazard allowance was reviewed to a flat rate that ranges from N5,000 to between N15,000 and N34,000 for health workers on the CONHESS salary structure, while doctors on CONMESS had theirs reviewed from N5,000 to between N32,000 and N40,000.”
While commending the Delta State government for paying the newly approved hazard allowance, the NMA decried the slow progress made towards the implementation of the new hazard allowance and the attempt to exclude doctors in MDAs and basic medical faculties in universities.
It also charged the Abia State branch of the association to ensure that the rights and privileges of all doctors in the state, especially those working with the state government are not trampled upon by deploying all legitimate means at their disposal.
The PUNCH reports that the Abia State Government is owing the NMA members not less than 24-month salaries and allowances.
“NEC resolved that NMA in Abia State shall serve the state government a three-week ultimatum, and if at the end of the three weeks, the outstanding issues are not resolved, NMA in the state should embark on an indefinite strike that must involve all doctors in federal, state and private hospitals.
“NEC called on Ekiti, Ondo and Imo states to hasten the process of clearing the unpaid salaries and wages of doctors and other health workers,” the communiqué read.
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