Why doctors are still being paid N5,000 as hazard allowance – Ngige

Chris Ngige, minister of labour, says doctors in the country are being paid N5,000 as hazard allowance because they have not called for a review of the amount. 

The doctors had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 1, owing to the federal government’s failure to pay their owed allowances and salaries.

Speaking during an NTA programme on Wednesday, the minister said the last review of the hazard allowance was done in 2009.

“The hazard allowance for medical doctors came on board in 1991 under circular 1 of 1991. There were three of us that wrote that circular. I was there as deputy director,” he said.

Ngige said he was not aware that the doctors were still being paid N5,000 as hazard allowance until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I didn’t even know it was still N5,000 until we started COVID and when I mentioned it in the economic sustainability committee, both the minister of finance and the vice-president said N,5000 for somebody working in a health sector? It is criminal. The vice-president is a lawyer, finance minister is an accountant,” he said.

-The Cable