The Federal Government on Friday, released the sum of N4.5 billion for clearance of backlog of arrears of hazard and inducement allowances to 31 federal teaching hospitals and medical centres across the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said the payment is for arrears of April and May.
He said the meeting with Buhari was to discuss the developments with the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
“Just this morning, before we went to see Mr President, the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning, 3am, they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical Centres and special hospitals of the federal government service and they have expended close to N4.5 billion in the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May.
He said moves were ongoing to organise a meeting for discussions with Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for state-owned hospitals adding that the payment for June will also be done immediately these ones are sorted out.”
“Again, it’s important to report to you that in consonance with what he’s saying, we have arranged a meeting for them to speak to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum because you don’t mix apples and oranges.
“The issue of health is on the concurrent list, so the federal government will do its own and the state government will be expected to do their own. Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done.”
Ngige said the fund is to cover hazard and inducement allowances for the month of April and May.
The Minister had earlier said that the government was going to begin payment of hazard allowance from Tuesday assuring that the process would be concluded by Friday.
Ngige, was in the company of the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN).
