The Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Medical doctors has blamed the Ministry of Finance for the non-payment of the elevated hazard allowance as authorised by the Federal Authorities.
The President of NARD, Dr Dare Ishaya, who spoke with our correspondent, stated the cash for the hazard allowance was budgeted, however the Federal Ministry of Finance had but to launch it.
Saturday PUNCH stories that the Federal Authorities had in December 2021 elevated the hazard allowances relevant to well being staff in its healthcare amenities throughout the nation.
The increment was contained in a round with reference SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406 dated December 22, 2021 by the Chairman of the Nationwide Salaries, Earnings and Wages Fee.
It learn partially, “Regarding the evaluation of the hazard allowance relevant to well being staff within the providers of the federal hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in ministries, departments, and businesses.
“The hazard allowance was reviewed to a flat price that ranges from N5,000 to between N15,000 and N34,000 for well being staff on the CONHESS wage construction, whereas medical doctors on CONMESS had theirs reviewed from N5,000 to between N32,000 and N40,000.”
Nonetheless, Ishaya stated the Ministry of Finance had but to launch the cash for the reviewed hazard allowance.
He said, “We’re pondering that we are going to make progress, however the issues I’m seeing on the bottom usually are not beneficial. The issue is with the Ministry of Finance really; the cash has been budgeted however they haven’t launched the cash for us to profit from it. We haven’t been capable of finding out what precisely the problems are as a result of seven months down the road, there’s no plan. This month is already gone as effectively.
“We came upon from the Accountant-Basic’s workplace that they’re utilizing the previous payroll and utilizing the previous hazard price, no directive by any means from the Ministry of Finance to impact the brand new hazard allowance.”
The NARD president stated his efforts to see the Minister of Finance, Finances, and Nationwide Planning, Zainab Ahmed, over the matter had been abortive.
He added, “I’ve gone there (Ministry of Finance) a number of instances, I’ve been blocked. I’ve not been in a position to see the Everlasting Secretary, Particular Duties, within the ministry; the one particular person I do know I’ve been in a position to communicate to is the director of money administration in that ministry. It is a low degree of engagement and I wouldn’t say there’s progress as a result of they might come up tomorrow and deny that they don’t seem to be conscious of something.
“The cash is there; it’s been budgeted for, but it surely’s remaining for it to be launched for cost. If it was not budgeted, we are going to blame the authorities liable for the budgeting.
“We’ve got given an ultimatum; now we have adopted up and it appears to not be working.
“We’ve got written to the Ministry of Finance; it took them nearly three weeks earlier than the letter acquired to the desk of the minister; we wrote them earlier than the communiqué and ultimatum.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that resident medical doctors had on July 30, 2022 issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Authorities to implement all of the agreements it had with the affiliation or they might embark on an indefinite strike.
The affiliation’s calls for embody the cost of the newly reviewed Medical Residency Coaching Fund; and the fast implementation and cost of the brand new hazard allowance and arrears, amongst others.
When contacted on the phone, the Director of Press/Info, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Phil Abiamuwe-Mowete, requested {that a} textual content message be despatched to her on the matter. She had but to reply to the textual content message despatched to her as of the time of submitting this report.
