The National Association Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institution (NANNM-FHI) sector, has cried out against the exclusion of its members in the recent 40 per cent pay rise for federal workers.
In a statement issued by Mr Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, National Chairman, NANNM-FHI sector, to Newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, nurses and other health workers have been calling for salary adjustment since 201, with several committees set up to this effect , but to no avail.
He noted that the Government said that the pay rise for Federal Government workers was to cushion the effects of inflation, rising cost of living, hike in transportation fare, housing and electricity tariff but maintained that the federal government had no justification to exclude some sections of civil servants, especially in the health sector from the pay rise since everyone, including the workers patronise the same market and pay the same bills.
He cried out the action was also coming when there is mass exodus of nurses and midwives out of the country for greener pastures with aftermath effect of increase workload on the few nurses on ground.
He argued that the Federal government should motivate those health workers, who have agreed to stay in the country to salvage the health system by this pay rise, and not to exclude nurses.
He said that they have just received the news this weekend and they are studying the situation while consultation with relevant stakeholders is ongoing.
