University Graduates of Nursing Science Association, UGONSA, have demanded an increase to its monthly N5000 hazard allowance.
In a letter dated March 31, the association asked that the upward adjustment should reflect level of hazards to which healthcare workers in their cadre were exposed.
The letter, a copy of which was released to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abakaliki on Thursday, was addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.
It was signed by Chief Solomon Egwuenu and Philip Eteng, Chairman and Secretary of the association, respectively, and was captioned: “Equitable Adjustment of Health Workers’ Hazard Allowances”.
“Sir, we write to commend your on-going effort at ensuring that our age-long cry for the review of health workers’ hazard allowance is addressed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“However, we call for equity in the adjustment of the hazard allowance such that the template for the upward review shall be prorated to the level of exposure to clinical hazards.
“It is incontrovertible that nurses are the single, most exposed group to healthcare-related hazards among healthcare professionals.
“Nurses stay round-the-clock at the patients’ bedsides and thus have the highest exposure to healthcare-related hazards among the healthcare team members.
“Since the care of mankind has been entrusted to nurses, they must be adequately compensated and motivated to carry out this task effectively and efficiently.
“For the umpteenth time, we wish to re-emphasise that the current N5,000 payable to nurses, who swim in an ocean of hazards, as hazard allowance epitomises insensitivity on the side of government.
“The treatment shows a lack of commitment or the political will to reposition our healthcare system for efficient service delivery.
“Globally, the performances of healthcare systems are proportional to the level of welfare and motivation advanced to nurses; nursing is the cornerstone upon which care is anchored in the healthcare delivery system,’’ the letter read in part.
According to UGONSA, nurses are to the healthcare system what mothers are to the family.
The union further decried poor treatment meted to nurses, describing it as the bane of the Nigerian health system.
“It is better late than never; a reviewed allowance equitably configured to reflect the level of exposure to clinical hazards such that nurses who are exposed the most are paid the most will motivate them,” the group added.
