Federal government justifies payment of COVID-19 allowance to health workers
The minister of state for health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, says the federal government has paid up to N20bn in COVID-19 inducement allowance to doctors and health workers in the country.
The minister, who applauded all front-line health workers in the country amid the fight against the pandemic, made this known on Wednesday morning while speaking to journalists.
About 16,000 doctors have downed tools over the government’s inability to meet their demands including insurance package, payment of the outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance as well as the payment of medical residency training funding.
It was earlier reported that the doctors also called for the upward review of their hazard allowance from the sum of N5,000 which they described as paltry.
The health workers alleged that the federal government has not invited them to a meeting after they gave a notification of strike.