COVID19: Sanwo-Olu Hikes Doctors, Nurses Allowances, FG Delays

By Fola James

Health workers Lagos state will now enjoy hazard allowance up to 400 per cent of their former allowance, the state government has said.

Governor Babajide Sanwo–Olu had on Tuesday said doctors, nurses and other medical officials in the front line of fight to contain the corona virus pandemic, needed higher allowance to appreciate their effort at this time of the global scourge.

Few hours after, the state goverment has increased the minimum allowance from N5000 to N25,000.

The announcement of the increment was contained in a circular issued by the Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola yesterday.l.

Explaining the rationale for the increment, the Head of Service stated that the gesture was in appreciation of health workers’ in the fight against COVID-19, as well as their daily exposure to hazardous situations.

Okunola said, “In appreciation of the dedication of all Health Officers in Lagos State to the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as their daily hazardous exposure to the highly contagious disease, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has approved the increment of Hazard Allowance for all Health Officers in Lagos State from N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) to N25,000 (Twenty Five Thousand Naira) for the month of April, 2020”.

He enjoined the health workers to reciprocate the gesture with more doggedness and enthusiasm towards their duties.

Muri-Okunola, however, reiterated that the collective effort of the entire workforce is required to win the battle against the deadly virus, noting that “this pandemic shall also pass”.

Meanwhile, the minister of health,,Mr Ehanire said on Wednesday at the daily press briefing of the Presidential Task Force. PTF on COVID 19, that the federal government had yet to decide the appropriate allowance for health workers at the federal level.

The decision on the matter will be reached soon, the minister said.

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