The Nigerian Government has just approved 3 months increase in allowances of medical doctors and other health workers in Nigeria, especially for those on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who lead the Federal Government team to meet with doctors and other Health workers said payment is expected to take effect from March 2020.
The approval is for 3 categories of healthcare workers. The first category is payment of 50% of salaries as hazard allowance to health workers, while the second is 40% as consolidated salary for healthcare workers
The last category of workers are those directly at isolation centres who will receive risk allowances of 20% and non-core health workers will get 10% of their salaries.
Government further agreed to begin insurance for workers as well as the employees compensation insurance.
While government agrees not to tax healthcare workers at this period, it however rejected a demand for extension of service for healthcare workers due for retirement during the COVID-19 period..
In attendance were the Minister of State for Health, Adeleye Momoara; Acting Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Nta Ekpeyong; the National President of Nigeria Medical Association, Francis Faduyile and the National Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Biobelemoye Josiah as well as representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
