Doctors’ Strike: FG releases N4.5bn
The Federal Government has on Friday, 19th June, ordered the disbursement of N4.5 billion to 31 Federal Teaching and Medical Centres in the country, setting aside N9 billion for payment of insurance.
The disclosure was made by Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, after meeting with Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire.
The minister maintained that the N4.5 billion is earmarked for the payment of hazard and inducement allowances for the months of April and May as plans are in the hoofing for June allowance.
Ngige said the payment is aimed at meeting the demands of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), who are, at present on a strike.
“This morning, before we went to see Mr President, the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning, 3am, it has paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and Specialist Hospitals of the federal government service.
“They have spent close to N4.5 billion in the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May.
“The payment for June will also be done immediately after these ones are sorted out.
“Also, according to what Ehanire said, we have equally arranged a meeting for them to speak to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
“The issue of health is on the concurrent list, so the federal government will do its own and the state governments are expected to do their own.
“Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done.”
The Labour minister further revealed that the government will soon disburse the sum of N9 billion for immediate payment for Group Life Insurance to workers including health and medical workers who gave up their lives, while treating coronavirus patients.
“Also there was evidence that the insurance premium had been paid.
“As I speak with you N9 billion has been spent by the federal government to pay for insurance not only for health workers this time but every worker in the public service of the federation.
“This is to enable any other health worker who loses his life as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic to benefit from the insurance scheme as the family can make claims from the Group Life Insurance as enshrined in the Pension Acts.”
