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Midwives and nurses regret not receiving the 40% salary increase

Apr 25, 2023 | Health | 0 comments

The Federal Health Institution (NANNM-FHI) of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) sector has questioned the absence of its workers from the most recent 40% salary hike for federal employees.

In a statement to NAN yesterday, Mr. Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, National Chairman, NANNM-FHI sector, voiced the association’s disappointment.

Rilwan said FHI of Nigeria nurses and midwives had been alerted to the 40 percent unique allowance pay raise for Federal Government personnel, which excluded its members.

He called the exclusion a mistake and an effort to disrupt the system.

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He claimed nurses and other health workers have been pushing for compensation adjustments since 2016, with multiple committees set up to do so.

Rilwan claimed the committees’ reports had not been released.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had claimed before the payment that the salary hike was to justify the country’s existing economic realities.

He said the federal government had no reason for excluding some civil officials, notably in the health sector, from the wage raise since everyone shops at the same market and pays the same expenses.

He claimed the move was also coming during a large flight of nurses and midwives to brighter pastures, which increased the pressure on the remaining staff.

“Instead of inspiring those health professionals who have committed to stay in the nation to preserve the health system by this salary raise, the greatest thing the government could do was to omit nurses,” Rilwan remarked.

“The last time the Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) was updated was in 2010, and most of the allowances owed to nurses were being short-paid, such as a 30% shift allowance with less than 10% being paid to nurses.

Various reasons are provoking anger, including the nurses special pay structure.

“However, we only got the news this weekend and are investigating the matter while consulting with appropriate stakeholders, including our parent organisation.

Yet, our members are unhappy with the exclusion, and we cannot remain silent.

He remarked, “Nurses have experienced enough neglect and suffering as frontline employees in the health sector.”