By January 2022, the Federal Government will start implementing the enhanced hazard allowance, according to the National Association of Resident Doctors.

Dr. Dare Ishaya, the organization president, stated in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise that the allowance will be raised to a proportion of each doctor’s basic pay based on their grade level and pay.

“Our conversations with the Federal Government over the hazard allowance are now complete. In January 2022, we will draft a circular that will go into effect.

We were informed that the 2022 budget includes funding for it. In January 2022, implementation will so begin. The conversation has come to a conclusion that, based on one’s grade level and basic pay, it will be raised to a percentage of base pay.

He did, however, implore the government to see to it that the agreement struck is carried out.

“The conversation is now complete, but the implementation will be the challenge. The government’s implementation is typically the issue, he claimed.

Speaking further, he added that despite an agreement made with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, resident doctors in the states of Abia, Imo, Ekiti, and Ondo who are due wage arrears have not yet received payment.

“At their meeting a few weeks ago, we reached agreements with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum regarding the procedures to settle those debts, but no state government has contacted us as of yet.

“We have not received a meeting invitation from the NGF secretariat. We haven’t heard from them, but they are meant to serve as the focal point of the conversation with the various state governors.

Ishaya stated, “We will get in touch with them to remind them of our agreement.”

Ishaya had informed our reporter that the outstanding salary arrears for doctors in the states of Abia, Imo, Ekiti, and Ondo are currently twenty months, six months, four months, and four months, respectively.

He mentioned that the doctors are experiencing severe psychological strain and that they are unable to afford their rent or their kids’ educational expenses.

“One can only image the conditions these doctors are in because the nation’s economy isn’t doing well enough to allow people to look for other sources of income.

Because they haven’t been paid, they have been compelled to live in a really hazardous situation—not by choice.

Even to obtain money to go to work, they are unable to pay their dwelling rent. Imagine the psychological impact of a doctor like that arriving to treat a patient, planning ahead for his family’s food and educational needs, and considering how he will return to work. However, he is taking care of patients,” he remarked.