The Federal Government has approved hazard allowance for the months of April and May for health workers fighting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Labour and Employment added that the government had also approved insurance coverage for the health workers.
The statement noted that Labour and Employment Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, said this during a meeting between representatives of the government and Health Professional Associations on Monday.
Ngige noted the gesture was to fulfill the memorandum of understanding signed between the Federal Government representatives, the health professionals, and unions in the health sector on April 21, 2020.
The minister said the decision to pay the two months hazard allowance was due to the urgent approval granted by the President Muhammed Buhari and it was part of the agreement reached after the meeting.
Ngige added that the payment of the allowance, which will begin on Friday, was to appreciate the efforts of the health workers risking their lives on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
He said, “We reviewed all, and also reviewed all the emoluments that we are to give these gallant workers who are at the frontline taking the risk for all of us and the Federal government side has given them the financial implication of what they have done.
“We have fixed a timeline for ourselves that before the end of this week, the health workers captured in that particular COVID-19 net and frontline workers should get all their hazard and inducement allowances for the month of April and May before the close of the week.
“The decision on the commencement of the implementation of the allowances was reached along with the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.”
