FG Offers Health Workers 350 Per Cent Raise In Hazard Allowance

The Federal Government has offered health workers in the country
between 350 to 600 per cent increase in their hazard allowance.

The government offered junior health workers 350 per cent rise
and their senior colleagues 600 per cent.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige disclosed
this after a meeting between the Federal Government and
representatives of all professional bodies and unions in the health
sector on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.

Ngige said the Federal Government has agreed in principle to
increase the retirement age of doctors and other health workers
from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants.

Tuesday’s meeting deliberated on the issue of hazard allowance
and retirement age for health workers in government health
establishments.

According to the minister, the Government side led by the
Minister of State for Budget and Planning, gave a counter offer to
the earlier submissions made by the Nigerian Medical Association
(NMA) and affiliate associations and the Joint Health Sector Unions
(JOHESU).

“The Government side gave them that offer based on the reality
that we have on ground, that the economy is not doing very well and
the capital component of the budget is actually being funded on
borrowing. The earnings of the Government have also drastically
gone down.

“So, they are going back to their people with the government
offer and they asked for two weeks adjournment to enable them to
conclude consultation with their members and report back to us,”
Ngige said in a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Press
and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Charles Akpan, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement said the meeting agreed that the offers be left
open until both parties go back for consultations with their
members and return in two weeks time for further negotiations.

The minister stated that the federal government spent N31billion
for three months on health workers during COVID-19 pandemic.

“But we moved from the N5000 hazard allowance per month, which
was long forgotten until COVID-19 struck. During COVID-19, the
Government spent about N31billion for three months. So, I think the
Government side has offered things that are very reasonable,
increasing the former positions of junior and senior health
workers. Junior workers had 350 percent rise and senior workers had
about 600 percent,” the statement said.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by Ministers of Health, Dr Osagie
Ehanire; Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora; Clem Agba (Budget and Planning) and
Festus Keyamo (Labour and Employment).

Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji
Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter
Yerima Tarfa were equally in attendance.

The Federal Government has offered health workers in the country
between 350 to 600 per cent increase in their hazard allowance.

The government offered junior health workers 350 per cent rise
and their senior colleagues 600 per cent.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige disclosed
this after a meeting between the Federal Government and
representatives of all professional bodies and unions in the health
sector on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.

Ngige said the Federal Government has agreed in principle to
increase the retirement age of doctors and other health workers
from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants.

Tuesday’s meeting deliberated on the issue of hazard allowance
and retirement age for health workers in government health
establishments.

According to the minister, the Government side led by the
Minister of State for Budget and Planning, gave a counter offer to
the earlier submissions made by the Nigerian Medical Association
(NMA) and affiliate associations and the Joint Health Sector Unions
(JOHESU).

“The Government side gave them that offer based on the reality
that we have on ground, that the economy is not doing very well and
the capital component of the budget is actually being funded on
borrowing. The earnings of the Government have also drastically
gone down.

“So, they are going back to their people with the government
offer and they asked for two weeks adjournment to enable them to
conclude consultation with their members and report back to us,”
Ngige said in a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Press
and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Charles Akpan, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement said the meeting agreed that the offers be left
open until both parties go back for consultations with their
members and return in two weeks time for further negotiations.

The minister stated that the federal government spent N31billion
for three months on health workers during COVID-19 pandemic.

“But we moved from the N5000 hazard allowance per month, which
was long forgotten until COVID-19 struck. During COVID-19, the
Government spent about N31billion for three months. So, I think the
Government side has offered things that are very reasonable,
increasing the former positions of junior and senior health
workers. Junior workers had 350 percent rise and senior workers had
about 600 percent,” the statement said.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by Ministers of Health, Dr Osagie
Ehanire; Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora; Clem Agba (Budget and Planning) and
Festus Keyamo (Labour and Employment).

Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji
Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter
Yerima Tarfa were equally in attendance.