It is fair and just: Ngige says N5000 Hazard Allowance Fixed in 1992 is good for doctors
- Many workers especially doctors who continue their strike have been threatened by the federal government
- According to the government, those who does not work will not be entitled to any salary
- Meanwhile, Chris Ngige has revealed that the current hazard allowance was fixed in 1995
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The current hazard allowance of N5000 was fixed in 1992 says minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. However, he said the allowance is fair and just.
He said this while reacting to the current strike embarked National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
He said that if they refuse to resume work, there will be a policy of no work, no pay.
Source: Twitter
Ngige gave the warning during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“By Tuesday, I will invite them back. If they become recalcitrant, there are other things I can do. There are weapons in the Labour Laws, I will invoke them. There is no work, no pay,” Ngige said.
“Their employers have a role also to keep their business afloat, to keep patients alive. They can employ local doctors. We won’t get there but if we are going to get there, we will use that stick.”
NARD members on Thursday, April 1 commenced a nationwide strike.
According to the association, Nigeria loses over N576 billion ($1.2billion) yearly to medical tourism lamenting that Nigeria has no three-star government-owned tertiary health institution.
On her part, a former vice president of the association, Dr Julian Ojebo, said none of the demands made nine months ago have been met by the federal government.
Experts say the government has a history of not respecting contracts and honouring agreements it entered into.
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Also, the Voice of Nigeria is, however, reporting that the federal government and NARD have signed an agreement to avert the indefinite strike.
The agreement was, however, before the latest decision by the doctors to embark on strike, despite the last-minute efforts by government officials to convince them otherwise.
Some Nigerians have been reacting to the news on social media.
Source: Legit.ng
