Ngige challenge NARDS, says they were paid N4bn in 2020
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Thursday, said the Federal Government had so far implemented four out of the items listed on the Memorandum of Action it signed with the leadership of the striking National Association of Resident Doctors in a fresh talk with a view to ending the ongoing strike.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Thursday, said the Federal Government had so far implemented four out of the items listed on the Memorandum of Action it signed with the leadership of the striking National Association of Resident Doctors in a fresh talk with a view to ending the ongoing strike.
The Minister disclosed this while speaking to The PUNCH via a telephone call.
The minister said, “The Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria reported to me that the list they sent to the Accountant-General had been fully treated, that the house officers had received their money.
“I cross-checked with two centers in Abakaliki and one other state and they confirmed that they had been paid. They also told me that the central portal system for the recruitment of house officers is already open and is on. People make their choice and they post them there”.
“We are implementing the Memorandum of Action one after the other; we have implemented at least four of them categorically. Others are work in progress.”
The minister cited the issue of hazard allowance as part of the work in progress, saying it was not possible for the government to deliver on new hazard allowance immediately.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had already paid N4bn residency allowance for last year, adding that it is impossible to pay for this year since no money had been released to any ministry from the 2021 budget.
Ngige added, “We are executing them but some are work in progress. If you say we should pay you residency training fund for 2021, nobody can pay you because the 2021 budget has not been released to ministries, not a penny has been released on it. So, how do we pay? It is not possible. We are still implementing 2020 budget up till end of May”.
“But they have collected their 2020 residency allowance in December last year. It was N4bn, they have been paid; they submitted a list, and the money was paid on the list they submitted”.
