…We didn’t sack health workers, only rotating them.
The Lagos State government on Monday evening disclosed how it has addressed the grievances of COVID-19 health workers in the State and expressed disappointment that doctors under the aegis of Medical Guild, proceeded with a three-day warning strike despite resolving most of the issues and deliberating on unresolved ones.
The West African Pilot News recalls that medical doctors employed by the State government had said on Sunday that they would down tools over issues including shortage of doctors, heavy taxation of health workers, hazard allowance, and insurance cover.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, said that the actions of the doctors were ‘insensitive and lacks empathy which our profession epitomizes’ and proceeded to clarify major issues raised by the doctors.
The government denied claims that it unceremoniously disengaged health workers from isolation centres. It said it was rotating health workers in order to reduce fatigue and burn out among the workers, build capacity for treatment of COVID-19 across the health workforce.
The Commissioner, while explaining why COVID-19 allowances for May and June had not been paid, said that “to ensure uniformity and accuracy of the allowances, due diligence measures had to be put in place before subsequent month’s payment was approved.”
Mr Omotosho said that payments were being approved and noted that Lagos State was the first to pay extra COVID-19 allowances to frontline workers in the country. He also said hazard allowance for health professionals had been temporarily increased by 400%.
The State government blamed the Skipping Policy adopted by some Federal Institutions for the disparity in salary for doctors. The Commissioner explained that although the new minimum wage in Lagos places all members of the State above the Federal level, the Skipping Policy which places their federal counterparts one grade level above the State was the basis of the disparity. He added that the issue was in court and that the State government could not implement until judgment is delivered.
Responding to concerns that health workers were heavily taxed, the government said that Personal Income Tax Act was standard and determined based on the tax table. While a meeting with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service has been scheduled to hold this week, the statement said the Governor had approved tax exemption for hazard allowance for State health workers.
Other measures the Lagos State government said it had taken to pacify the medical workers included, fast track COVID-19 testing of health workers, separate isolation centre for health workers who test positive for COVID-19, accommodating health workers in hotels, providing them with three meals every day and transportation since the beginning of COVID-19.
The Commissioner said that all frontline health workers had been insured first as Lagos civil servants and by a consortium of insurance companies. “This represents a double insurance over and above standard civil service insurance,” Mr Omotosho stated.
The government said the recruitment of over 760 health workers had been hampered by the pandemic, but noted that recruitment would be concluded a month from now. It also said the construction of doctors’ quarters in LASUTH had commenced.
While calling on the striking doctors to return to work, the government assured citizens that negotiations were ongoing and that state-owned facilities remain accessible.
- PHOTOS: After 48 Days in Hospital, Boy Labelled Witch and Abandoned is Discharged - August 8, 2021
- Travellers Complain Over Fly Infested Aminu Kano Airport - August 6, 2021
- Ondo 2020: Mimiko Criticises Akeredolu’s Performance - September 28, 2020