Close To N4.5 Billion Paid To For Hazard Allowances - FG

Teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres (FMC) have received N4.5 billion hazard and inducement allowances, according to the Federal Government.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and employment, Chris Ngige, in Abuja, during a chat with journalists on Friday, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The release of the funds comes amid the strike action launched by the  National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD).

The association has embarked on a strike after giving the government a 14-day ultimatum to satisfy their demands of the payment of their life insurance, hazard allowance, the supply of personal protective equipment, and the payment of their minimum wage.

Speaking on the matter, he said, “Just this morning, before we went to see Mr President, the ministry of finance reported that as of this morning, 3am; they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and federal medical centres and specialist hospitals of the federal government service and they have expended close to N4.5 billion in the payment because, we are paying them the arrears of April and May. The payment for June will also be done immediately these ones are sorted out,” he said.

“Again, it’s important to report to you that in consonance with what he’s saying, we have arranged a meeting for them to speak to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum because you don’t mix apples and oranges.

“The issue of health is on the concurrent list, so the federal government will do its own and the state government will be expected to do their own. Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done.

“We hope that there is a solution in sight; what we have done is to brief the president of the country, who as we all know has the final responsibility for everything that goes on in government. Those of us who are ministers administer our ministries and have to report to him periodically,” he said.

“In this particular case, it has been important to report to him how things have been because of the strike action of resident doctors. We have to report to him the implications and the possible consequences of such a strike action.

READ ALSO: Latest Coronavirus News Update For Sat, 20 June 2020

“He listened to us carefully, of course he is not happy that it has come this way and we all hope that it would be resolved after all the demands that were made have been resolved.

“The minister of labour have listed those demands and how all of them have been fulfilled except those of them which are not within our ambit.”