The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, has said that all health workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be paid their outstanding salaries on May 22.
Ahmed made the announcement during a meeting with stakeholders, convened by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) FCT chapter, had earlier threatened to go on strike on May 28 if all their outstanding salaries were not paid.
Ahmed blamed the delay on technical challenges encountered while switching to the IPPIS policy of the Federal Government.
He also blamed the delay on incomplete information by some workers and laxity on the part of the consultant which he said had been fired.
The accountant general, however, said that all the issues had been resolved and that all workers would be paid their due on or before May 22.
Earlier, Gbajabimila said the meeting was extremely important because lives of citizens in Abuja were at risk if the strike was allowed.
He expressed disappointment that the health workers were not paid their due after several interventions by the leadership of the house.
“We have workers who have not been paid for five months, where do this happen in the world? How do you expect them to survive?
“All over the world, people are commending health workers but we are not paying them their wages.
“All over the world, people are giving health workers extra wages and allowances but we are not; I am hoping that we will be able to resolve this today and avert the looming strike,” he said.
Gbajabimila commended the health workers for keeping to their oath of office and for saving lives even when their salaries were not being paid.
Also speaking, the Minister of the FCT, Alhaji Mohammed Bello said that issues of non payment of salaries does not usually happen in the FCT as there were professionals handling it.
He said the none payment of health workers salaries was unfortunate and measures had been put in place to address it.
He promised that other “chronic matters” affecting the health workers would also be addressed immediately after the lockdown.
“The FCT at a time was rated as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“A lot of successes have been achieved in recent times. If the strike holds, it could jeopardise the fight against the virus,” he said.
The Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) FCT Chapter, Comrd. Debora Yusuf thanked the speaker for his intervention.
She said the health workers were not against the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) policy of the federal government as they were also against corruption.
“We are the hero’s on the frontline against COVID-19 and it is unfortunate that we’re not being paid salaries,” she said.
She thanked the house for giving them a standing ovations during the International Day of Nurses.
