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Dr. Francis Faduyile, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has described the newly approved N20, 000 hazard allowance increment as gross underpayment compared to risks involved in the fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faduyile, mentioned that the development is a good gesture, though it is little, compared to required hazard allowance for medical doctors and other health workers in the frontline of the COVID-19 containment efforts as they face life-risking hazardous situations.
He further compared with other African countries saying,“we receive an average allowance of $31 at the rate of N5,000. If you had to do it to N20, 000 that is times four, it means you have to go to N121, 000.”
Meanwhile,In Ghana, the average hazard allowance is N300, 000; and one of the West African countries, either Liberia or Sierra lone collects a hazard allowance of $861. Averagely, $300 to $400 , hence if frontliners are still given $121 during the pandemic in Lagos which is an epicenter; it is still gross underpayment, he explained.
He said the NMA and other national health Associations had met with the government, presenting an established template and what their agreement was contained in the template already designed.
In the template made available to Good Health Weekly, rather than N5000 paid across the board, it was recommended that a special COVID-19 Hazard and Inducement allowance of 50 per cent of consolidated basic salary, should be made to all health workers in the Federal government Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres and designated COVID-19 centres and PHCs.
Also, 40 percent of Consolidated Basic Salary would be paid as a special COVID-19 hazard allowance and inducement allowance to healthcare workers at special non-public hospitals and clinics in the Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for the same three months period.
Also, 20 percent of the Consolidated Basic Salary will be paid as special risk allowance additionally on special; COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance to all health workers directly managing COVID-19 at the infectious disease hospitals, isolation, and treatment centres.
Then,10 percent of the Consolidated Basic Salary would be paid to non–core medical professionals working in the health sector and operating at the aforementioned hospitals/clinics as a special allowance for the COVID-19 period – three months first instance.
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