The Nigerian government has approved three months of three categories of COVID-19 allowances for medical doctors and other health workers in Nigeria.
The allowances are particularly for those in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, starting from March 2020
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who led the government team to meet with doctors and other health workers, said payment is expected to take effect from March 2020.
First category is an increase of 50 per cent as hazard allowance to health worker, while the second is 40 per cent as consolidated salary for health care workers.
The last category of workers are those directly at isolation centres will risk allowances of 20 per cent and non-core health workers will get 10 per cent of their salaries.
The Government further agreed to begin insurance for workers as well as the employees’ compensation insurance.
While the government agreed not to tax health workers at this period, it, however, rejected a demand for extension in the case of health workers due for retirement during the COVID-19 period.
In attendance were the Minister of State for Health Adeleye Momoara, acting Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Nta Ekpeyong, the National President of Nigeria Medical Association, Francis Faduyile, and the National Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Biobelemoye Josiah as well as representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The allowances are particularly for those in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, starting from March 2020
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who led the government team to meet with doctors and other health workers, said payment is expected to take effect from March 2020.
First category is an increase of 50 per cent as hazard allowance to health worker, while the second is 40 per cent as consolidated salary for health care workers.
The last category of workers are those directly at isolation centres will risk allowances of 20 per cent and non-core health workers will get 10 per cent of their salaries.
The Government further agreed to begin insurance for workers as well as the employees’ compensation insurance.
While the government agreed not to tax health workers at this period, it, however, rejected a demand for extension in the case of health workers due for retirement during the COVID-19 period.
In attendance were the Minister of State for Health Adeleye Momoara, acting Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Nta Ekpeyong, the National President of Nigeria Medical Association, Francis Faduyile, and the National Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Biobelemoye Josiah as well as representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.