The Federal Government has increased the hazard allowance for medical doctors and health workers in the country.
It was gathered that while the government increased the allowance for doctors from N5,000 to between N32,000 and N40,000; other health workers like nurses, laboratory workers among others had theirs reviewed to between N15,000 and N34,000.
This was contained in a circular with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406 dated December 22, 2021, and signed by the Executive Chairman of the National Salaries, Wages and Income 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.”
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Hazard allowance, a wage supplement paid to workers who do dangerous jobs, has been among key negotiation points between Nigerian doctors and the government for many years.
Following the interventions of prominent Nigerians and relevant stakeholders and the commitment of the government to address grey areas, the then striking members of NARD, the county’s larger group of doctors, suspended its nine-week prolonged strike.
The new announcement by the government is, therefore, part of the efforts by the government to fulfil its pledge during the negotiations with the workers.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, on Friday, disagreed with the new rate.
The association’s position was contained in a statement jointly signed by the National President, Dr Godiya Ishaya; Secretary-General, Dr Suleiman Ismail; and Social Secretary, Dr Alfa Yusuf.
The statement titled, ‘Press statement on the review of hazard allowance’, expressed the dissatisfaction of the association with the proposed payment rate.
It said members of the association are dissatisfied with the government’s resolutions.
The statement reads in part; “Whilst we acknowledge the FG’s frantic efforts in improving the welfare of Health Workers in Nigeria in this regard, we wish to state that, this resolution is a far cry from the Final Position of NMA/NARD in the last meeting with the FG.
“Hence, the NARD are disenchanted and dissatisfied with this resolution and therefore reject it in its entirety.
“This new hazard circular is not the product of a true collective bargaining agreement (CBA), but a one-sided conclusion that betrays the spirit of sincere amicable wage negotiations.”
The doctors appealed to the government to implement what they described as the agreed hazard allowance rates to avoid another lengthy negotiation process in future.
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