Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, disclosed
this while addressing journalists at a meeting with the National Association of
Resident Doctors (NARD) leadership on Monday in Abuja.
The meeting was held to assess the level of implementation
of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered by both parties and to avert
strike threat by health workers.
Mr Ngige said a resolution has been reached and all disputes
resolved, assuring that the federal government was committed to health workers’
safety and welfare.
“The federal government has so far spent N15.8 billion naira
for hazard allowances in its teaching hospitals, medical centres and some other
non- COVID-19 facilities where doctors have also been treating virus cases.
“Government has cleared the April and May special allowances
which is no doubt a big feat, knowing that this is for special allowances only,
and at a time its earning has fallen short of the expected earning.
“The affected medical personnel will also draw their normal
salaries and other allowances,” he said.
The minister further said that the June allowances were
still outstanding because the budget has been affected by developments not
originally captured, such as pay for house officers, interns, NYSC doctors and
volunteers.
He, however, added that government was already liaising with the Presidential Taskforce to sort out especially for volunteers.
Mr Ngige also said that the 20 per cent top-up for all
health personnel inside the COVID-19 wards and isolation centres of the
hospitals should be effected as quickly as possible.
He noted that hence, a directive was given to the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to reconcile all matters relating to the issue by August 4, to enable urgent payment.
He also said the issue of Residency Training Fund was
captured in the 2020 budget.
“We noticed that the subhead captured in the service-wide
vote will need some amendment by the Budget Office in liaison with the National
Assembly to handle the problem, so that implementation can start as soon as
possible,” Ngige said.
He also said the government has paid all the premium for Group
Life Insurance spanning between April 17, 2020 and April 16, 2021 for all
federal civil servants except those in the revenue generating agencies such as
customs, FIRS and NNPC who could afford their own insurance.
The minister added that agreement has been reached to forward the nominal roll of the Health Ministry workers and its parastatals to the six handling insurance companies latest next week.
He added that problems arising from the consequential
adjustment of the minimum wage in the health ministry, especially those on
GIFMIS, non-regular staff such as interns and NYSC members, would be resolved
as soon as NARD submitted the list of affected workers.
He further said that government would continue to appreciate the untiring efforts of all health workers.
“President Muhammadu Buhari at every time, remembers and
thanks you for the immense sacrifice you make for the nation and firmly
believes that nothing is too much to do for you to show appreciation.
“Government will do more to protect the health of our
people,” Mr Ngige said.
He advised trade unions to always follow due process in
seeking redress for disputes, arguing that first in line was negotiation with
the parent ministry who was their primary employer.
Aliyu Sokomba, NARD President, commended the government for
its commitment and expressed optimism that progress would be made by the time
the meeting reconvenes.
The meeting will reconvene on August 6 to take stock of the
implementation of the agreement reached.
It also set up a committee to resolve the lingering problem
between management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and
NARD.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
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