Health workers caution Nigerian govt over implementation of COVID-19 hazard allowance

Health workers in Nigeria have noted with regret the attitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards the implementation of the COVID-19 hazard allowances to health workers in the country.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the President of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Josiah Biobelemoye who warned government not to lead them into temptation in the way they handle the payments of COVID-19 hazard allowances.

Speaking with journalists immediately after his investiture/award by the Ethics Resource Center, Biobelemoye said that the consequences of such handling by government would be disastrous.

He said, “Certainly we are service-oriented but the first principle of giving service is that you should be alive, you should be well cared for to be able to give what you are giving.

“We attach so much importance to the very poor masses of Nigeria, that’s why we have been slow.

READ ALSO: FG to pay health workers’ hazard allowance next week

“We entered into an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health where the Ministry also agreed that there was an error in the implementation of the COVID-19 allowances.

“I want to make an appeal to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian government, do not lead us into temptation because if you lead us into temptation when we have expressed a very high level of patience, I think those who lead us will not be forgiven by nature, God and the people.

“That correction should be made and every other demand we have made peaceful should be given to us so that they don’t push us into embarking on strike that we know will negatively impact on generality of Nigerians.

“We entered into an agreement in 2015, it was not fulfilled, we have gone into another agreement of COVID-19 hazard allowances, it was not properly implemented.

“The good thing is that the government has realised that yes there was an error. Therefore, the temptation to deny us or to pay the June and refuse to pay that shortfall is enough temptation to even cause the world war,” Biobelemoye concluded.

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