The Federal Government has approved additional N8.9bn to pay up the large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all health workers in the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, disclosed this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the end of the meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors on Wednesday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that NARD had embarked on a total and an indefinite strike in all Federal and State hospitals in the country to press for its demands.
NARD demands include payment of the Medical Residency Training funding to all members as approved in the revised 2020 Budget, provision of genuine Group Life Insurance and Death in Service Benefits for all health workers.
Others are payment of outstanding April/May and June COVID-19 inducement allowance, determination of revised hazard allowance for all health workers as agreed in previous meetings with relevant stakeholders, immediate payment of salary shortfall of 2014, 2015 and 2016, among others.
Ngige said the implementation of the payment of the Special Hazard and Inducement Allowance has been concluded.
According him, the meeting was satisfied that the N20bn already appropriated in 2020 COVID-19 budget has been exhausted.
He said the meeting, therefore, commended the Federal Government and Mr President for approving additional N8.9bn to pay up the large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all health workers.
He added that this has been cash backed and the mandate sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments to start with effect from September 9.
According to him, this will bring the total disbursement to about N288bn.
