FG Votes N37.5bn As Hazard Allowances for Health Workers

*Urges NARD, JOHESU To Withdraw Strike Notices

The federal government has said that N37.5 billion was being set
aside to take care of payment of the new hazard allowance for
federal workers in the healthcare sector.

Government also said that it would take the final decision on
the new hazard allowance for health workers following the inability
of the unions in the health sector to resolve issues among
themselves.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, stated
this Thursday night while briefing journalists after a meeting of
the Presidential Committee on Salaries, relevant federal government
stakeholders and health sector professional associations and trade
unions.

Ngige explained that the government side allowed enough time for
the two big bodies of the health unions and professionals- the
Nigerian Medical Association and the Joint Health Sector Unions
(JOHESU) to harmonise their different positions on the hazard
allowance, but they were not able to do so.

Consequently, the minister said the matter would be taken back
to the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission (NSWIC) and
the Presidential Committee on Salaries to decide on the new hazard
allowance for health professionals and workers.

A statement issued yesterday by Deputy Director Press, Mr.
Charles Akpan quoted the minister as saying that the federal
government was treading cautiously in order not to be seen as
trying to stampede the health workers since the matter concerned
money.

He said, “We would have separated them into JOHESU and NMA but
that will give us much problem in terms of the implementation of
whatever we agree on.

“So, we are taking them jointly and it is yielding fruits now.
The two big bodies have given their final positions. The government
has taken their final positions back. We have also allowed them
time to see if they can discuss among themselves like they did just
before COVID-19 and we came out with COVID-19 allowance.

“We have given them that time to see if they can meet and
harmonise their positions, but they were not able to do so. We are
adjourning this meeting sine die for the government side to look at
those two positions to see whether we can do a middle of the road
within our organ, the NSIWC, which by its mandate, is the
government organ that fixes salaries, wages, allowances and
remuneration.”

Ngige said that the federal government earlier offered the
health workers 300 per cent increment on hazard allowances, which
came to a quantum amount of N37.5 billion.

He said they were trying to work within that realm of N37.5
billion, following the inability of the unions to harmonise their
different positions.

“It is a teething problem because everybody has Collective
Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and we are now renegotiating the CBAs.
There are CBA’s in 2006, 2009, 2013 and even court pronouncements
by the National Industrial Court, especially on work value and
equal pay. These are things we will put in a basket and
decide.”

Regarding the trade dispute notices issued to the federal
government by the National Association of Resident Doctors and
JOHESU, Ngige said he had directed them to withdraw the strike
notices immediately.

“I told them to withdraw because it is arm twisting. It is not
allowed in ILO CBA negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw
those notices they gave.

“JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD
gave 28-day ultimatum from the day they had their NEC. Those things
are arm-twisting and I told them that they must withdraw them
because the issues they are bringing in here are tangential issues.
They have nothing to do with this discussion here on fixing a new
hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.”

Others from the government side at the meeting included the
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, Ministers of State, Clems
Agba (Finance Budget and Planning) and Olorunimbe Mamora (Health),
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdulahi
and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima Tarfa.

*Urges NARD, JOHESU To Withdraw Strike Notices

The federal government has said that N37.5 billion was being set
aside to take care of payment of the new hazard allowance for
federal workers in the healthcare sector.

Government also said that it would take the final decision on
the new hazard allowance for health workers following the inability
of the unions in the health sector to resolve issues among
themselves.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, stated
this Thursday night while briefing journalists after a meeting of
the Presidential Committee on Salaries, relevant federal government
stakeholders and health sector professional associations and trade
unions.

Ngige explained that the government side allowed enough time for
the two big bodies of the health unions and professionals- the
Nigerian Medical Association and the Joint Health Sector Unions
(JOHESU) to harmonise their different positions on the hazard
allowance, but they were not able to do so.

Consequently, the minister said the matter would be taken back
to the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission (NSWIC) and
the Presidential Committee on Salaries to decide on the new hazard
allowance for health professionals and workers.

A statement issued yesterday by Deputy Director Press, Mr.
Charles Akpan quoted the minister as saying that the federal
government was treading cautiously in order not to be seen as
trying to stampede the health workers since the matter concerned
money.

He said, “We would have separated them into JOHESU and NMA but
that will give us much problem in terms of the implementation of
whatever we agree on.

“So, we are taking them jointly and it is yielding fruits now.
The two big bodies have given their final positions. The government
has taken their final positions back. We have also allowed them
time to see if they can discuss among themselves like they did just
before COVID-19 and we came out with COVID-19 allowance.

“We have given them that time to see if they can meet and
harmonise their positions, but they were not able to do so. We are
adjourning this meeting sine die for the government side to look at
those two positions to see whether we can do a middle of the road
within our organ, the NSIWC, which by its mandate, is the
government organ that fixes salaries, wages, allowances and
remuneration.”

Ngige said that the federal government earlier offered the
health workers 300 per cent increment on hazard allowances, which
came to a quantum amount of N37.5 billion.

He said they were trying to work within that realm of N37.5
billion, following the inability of the unions to harmonise their
different positions.

“It is a teething problem because everybody has Collective
Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and we are now renegotiating the CBAs.
There are CBA’s in 2006, 2009, 2013 and even court pronouncements
by the National Industrial Court, especially on work value and
equal pay. These are things we will put in a basket and
decide.”

Regarding the trade dispute notices issued to the federal
government by the National Association of Resident Doctors and
JOHESU, Ngige said he had directed them to withdraw the strike
notices immediately.

“I told them to withdraw because it is arm twisting. It is not
allowed in ILO CBA negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw
those notices they gave.

“JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD
gave 28-day ultimatum from the day they had their NEC. Those things
are arm-twisting and I told them that they must withdraw them
because the issues they are bringing in here are tangential issues.
They have nothing to do with this discussion here on fixing a new
hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.”

Others from the government side at the meeting included the
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, Ministers of State, Clems
Agba (Finance Budget and Planning) and Olorunimbe Mamora (Health),
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdulahi
and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima Tarfa.