Government raises hazard allowances for health workers, may review doctors retirement age

The Federal Government has approved a 600 per cent increment in hazard allowance for senior health workers and 350 per cent for their junior counterparts.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, made the disclosure in Abuja after a meeting between the Federal Government and representatives of professional bodies and unions in the health sector.

On resolutions of the gathering, Ngige said the Federal Government had reviewed upward the N5,000 monthly hazard allowance for health workers.

According to him, the government team, led by the Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Clem Agba, gave a counter-offer to the earlier submissions of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and affiliate associations, a well as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

Ngige also hinted that the Federal Government had agreed, in principle, to increase the retirement age of doctors and other health workers from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants.

Others, who attended the parley from the government side, include the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, Ministers of State, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora (Health), Clems Agba (Budget and Planning) and Festus Keyamo (Labour and Employment).

The Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima Tarfa, were also at the gathering.