Nurses are upset Bayelsa won’t pay them new hazard allowance.

The non-implementation of the new hazard allowance approved by the Federal Government has been denounced by nurses and midwives in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

The failure to implement the new allowance had a significant impact on no less than 450 nurses and midwives in the state. Employees who perform extraordinarily risky or physically demanding jobs may be eligible for hazard allowance, which is an additional wage.

In its healthcare facilities across the nation, the Federal Government increased the hazard allowances for employees in December 2021.

On December 22, 2021, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission issued a circular with the reference SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406 that included the raise.

Part of the statement said, “Relating to the review of the Hazard Allowance applicable to Health Workers in the Services of the Federal Hospitals, Medical Centers, and Clinics in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.”

The hazard allowance was revised to a flat rate that ranges from N5,000 to between N15,000 and N34,000 for health workers on the CONHESS salary structure, while doctors on CONMESS had theirs reviewed from N5,000 to between N32,000 and N40,000.

According to the new policy, non-clinical and clinical nurses and midwives on GLs 01 to 05 are to receive hazard allowances of N15,000 and N16,000 respectively, those on GLs 06 to 12 are to receive hazard allowances of N30,000 and N32,000, and those on GLs 13 to 15 are to receive hazard allowances of N32,000 to 34,000.

Findings, however, reveal that despite the state government’s orders that the allowances be paid right away, nurses and midwives in Bayelsa State are still paid N5,000 as hazard allowance.

On May 1, 2023, Workers’ Day, Governor Douye Diri gave the Head of Service, Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, the order to begin implementing the revised hazard allowance.

“We believe that all medical and health workers who are entitled to call duty and hazard allowances as per our directives may have started receiving them,” Diri said. “If not, I hereby direct the Head of Service to go into this immediately and ascertain why that directive has not been carried out and implement it.”

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives’ Secretary-General, Fii Samuel, said in a statement to our correspondent that nurses continue to receive a monthly hazard allowance of N5,000.

“This is despite the fact that they are exposed to numerous risks while providing care to the ill, which can result in injuries, burnout, the acquisition of infections and diseases, and occasionally even death,” he said. Consequently, we are urging the implementation of the new hazard allowance.

The call duty allowance should be paid in accordance with the 2014 revised call duty allowance scale, Samuel continued, noting that nurses in specialized fields of practice and those who work call shifts at public hospitals should receive the same compensation.

“The leadership of the association has made several unsuccessful attempts through meetings with the government and letters requesting the implementation of the 2014 revised call duty allowance for specialist nurses, but to no avail,” he continued.

The Bayelsa State Government and all pertinent agencies are being urged to take immediate action to address the issues by the association as part of its resolution. In addition to increasing nurse motivation and morale, this will also enhance healthcare services.

When contacted, the state’s Head of Service, Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, stated that the state was working toward domesticating the new hazard allowance policy but did not provide a time frame for doing so.

“What happens at the federal level is not an automatic thing for the state, so when the state domesticates it, that is when they can start earning it,” she said.