Federal Government has approved two months hazard allowance for frontline health workers in the battle against COVID-19.
The Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made the announcement while speaking at a meeting between representatives of the Federal Government and Health Professional Associations.
He said the hazard allowance for the months of April and May would be paid before Friday, June 12, 2020.
The decision, according to a statement issued by the Ministry on Tuesday, is part of the agreement reached between the FG representatives led by the minister and representatives of the health sector workers.
Ngige said the urgent approval granted by the President Buhari is in appreciation of efforts of the health workers who risk their lives on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
The minister said;
We reviewed all, and also reviewed all the remunerations that we are to give these gallant workers who are at the frontline taking the risk for all of us.
We have fixed a timeline for ourselves that before the end of this week, the health workers captured in that particular COVID-19 net and frontline workers should get all their hazard and inducement allowances for the month of April and May before the close of the week.
Ngige stressed that the decision on the implementation of the allowances was reached along with the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.
He explained that the FG had approved insurance coverage for the health workers, adding that the gesture was in consonance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the FG representatives, the health professionals and unions in the health sector on April 21, 2020.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, said the ministry would ensure the provision of Personal Protective Equipments to various hospitals.
Present at the meeting were the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Ag. Chairman, National Salary and Wages Commission, Eyo Nta; Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health, A.M Abdullahi and others.
