COVID-19: Nigerian health workers demand N100, 000 allowance

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals on Tuesday told the Federal Government to pay health workers fighting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) N100,000 special hazard allowance.

The union also demanded life insurance cover for health workers.

In a statement jointly signed by the National President of the union, Dr Obinna Ogbonna, and General Secretary, Adekunle Egbanubi, NUAHP said an upward review of N5,000 health workers hazard allowance to N100,000 was necessary for its members because of the risk they face in carrying out their duties.

The union stated that with a lockdown it was necessary for government to provide special incentives for health workers.

The union said, “With the President’s pronouncement of a total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, we demand that Federal Government work out modalities to ensure that health workers in those areas are provided with adequate support to enhance human logistics and other support systems.

“We demand immediate payment of N100,000 Special COVID-19 allowance to all health workers at the frontline of the war against COVID-19 during this emergency period occasioned by the pandemic as is presently done to other health workers globally.

“Given the high risk of infection faced by health workers, we also demand that the Federal Government commence life insurance scheme for all health workers; this will further encourage them to remain devoted to save the rest of the populace from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

As a mark of commitment to the fight against COVID-19, the union called on the FG and state governments to provide adequate isolation centres, ventilators, testing kits and equipment that would make health workers to be fully functional nationwide.