SSAUTHRIAI Issues FG 7 Days Ultimatum For Hazard Allowance Payment

A seven-day ultimatum has been issued by the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) to the Federal Government to pay the hazard allowances that its members were owed.

The Association disclosed this in a communique signed by its Acting Chairman, Mr. Kabir Mustapha, and Acting Secretary, Mr. Joseph Ugwoke, after a two-day meeting in Calabar between Oct. 12 and 13.

The association resolved that it could no longer guarantee continued services if its members were not paid all the arrears owed to them within one week to avoid an industrial crisis in the health sector.

They said despite writing severally to the Federal Government, the payment has been delayed, adding that the government selectively paid four and five months in tranches to doctors while sidelining other health workers.

On the COVID-19 Special Inducement Allowance, the association urged the Federal Government to pay the balance of 40 percent being two months owed its members.

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“We demand the payment of 40 percent balance of the remaining two months to our members who were erroneously paid 10 percent.

“Also, the association notes with dismay the rate at which health workers especially professionals are migrating out of the country for greener pastures.

“This is due to the poor condition surrounding our health facilities, no consumables for health workers to work with, and poor welfare packages,” they said.

The association used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, implement the Sept. 30, 2017 agreement on adjusting the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, (CONHESS).

SSAUTHRIAI also urged governments at all levels to make remittances of deducted but unremitted funds to the unions and cooperatives without any further delay and to also remit third-party deductions forthwith.