We’re Frustrated’ – Rural Doctors, Nurses Cry Out Over Unpaid Salary Arrears, Petition Health Minister, NPHCDA

Rural doctors, nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers have petitioned the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and the executive secretary of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina over months of unpaid arrears, citing financial hardship and frustration it has brought on them.

The health workers, employed under the Expanded Midwives Service Scheme of the Federal Government, through NPHCDA, alleged that the government has neglected their plight, despite repeated promises to address the issue.

The petition signed by some of the health workers and made available to PUNCH described the emotional toll the months of unpaid salaries, allowances, and benefits have had on them.

The health workers said they feel abandoned, demotivated, and exhausted, with many of them struggling to feed their families and pay bills.

According to reports, the workers had earlier decried the unpaid accumulated salaries and alleged ill-treatment from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Sydani Group, and how it had left the health workers traumatised, impoverished, and stranded.

READ: Cholera Outbreak Claims Five Lives, 60 Hospitalised In Lagos

Many of them said they were redeployed to rural areas, far from their homes, and had left behind dependants.

While noting that they are doing their best to serve the communities and, by extension, Nigeria, the health workers said the lack of resources and support from the government has made their jobs quite difficult

In this new petition sent to the Health Minister, the health workers expressed deep frustration and despair over the unpaid arrears.

They urged Pate to urgently establish an organised and efficient payment system to ensure timely and consistent salary disbursement.

The petition read in part, “We, the medical staff contracted by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, under the expanded midwife service scheme project, are writing to you today with a heavy heart, frustration and in full confidence that only you can rescue us from the precarious situation we found ourselves presently.

“We have unwavering trust in your capabilities in resolving the too many problems bedevilling the Nigerian health care system, and this is typically one of them. Please do not let us down because the agency that employed us has done that already, and it is for that reason we are running to you because we believe the welfare of the average health professional should be a topmost priority if we must have a formidable health care industry. After all, a hungry CHEW, doctor, nurse/midwife cannot care effectively for the population we swear to meet their health needs and reduce the high Maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate in the country.

“It will interest you to know that upon our employment in June 2023, NPHCDA asked us to resign from our places of employment, but we were all unexplainably denied July salary and when they paid us in December for August and September, not everyone got their money. And later we got paid for the remaining months of the year out of struggle.

“This year, we have only been paid January salary, which came in late April after a series of newspaper publications, since then, we have not received any salary and we are suffering.

“Honourable minister, for over three months, many of us have not received our salaries, and some colleagues have not been paid since we were first contracted.

“This financial hardship has placed a tremendous emotional and mental strain on us, jeopardizing our ability to serve the Nigerian people effectively and we can no longer care for our family and meet our basic needs.

“We understand the current economic difficulties facing our nation. However, this situation has become untenable. We navigate daily challenges like outrageous transportation costs just to reach our workplaces, all while facing the ever-present threat of insecurity. Yet, despite these difficulties, we remain dedicated to providing quality healthcare to our communities.

“We are driven by a deep sense of duty and a genuine desire to serve those in need, still, our efforts are not being appreciated and reciprocated by my NPHCDA.

“The uncertainty surrounding our salaries is causing immense anxiety and despair, many of us struggle to afford basic necessities like food and shelter for our families. This constant financial worry spills over into our professional lives, affecting our morale and focus when we should be fully present for our patients.”

While appealing to the Health Minister to intervene in ensuring the payment of all the outstanding salaries owed by the professionals contracted by NPHCDA, the health workers added, ” Therefore, we implore you, Minister and the Federal government, to take immediate action to address this critical issue.

“We urgently request the facilitation of the payment of all outstanding salaries owed to the professionals contracted by NPHCDA. Additionally, we believe a permanent solution is necessary. We request the establishment of a well-organized and efficient payment system to ensure timely and consistent salary disbursement in the future.

“We believe that a healthy and motivated workforce is vital for a healthy nation. By addressing our concerns, you will not only alleviate the financial burden we carry but also empower us to continue serving Nigerians with the dedication and compassion they deserve by employing us directly to become an integral and permanent workforce in the health facilities we are.”