the Nigeria Medical Association has urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure payment of the newly approved hazard allowance to its members within the next two months.
In a communique issued at the end of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Sunday in Gombe, signed by the NMA president Uche Ojinmah and secretary-general Jide Onyekwelu, the association further resolved to continue the engagement using lawful means to ensure the payment of the allowance.
The Nigerian Medical Association added that it observed the slow progress towards implementing the new hazard allowance and the attempt to exclude doctors in ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and basic medical faculties in universities.
On the brain drain issue with medical doctors, the association said it was disappointed on the failure of government at all levels to address the ‘push’ factors propelling brain drain.
The medical association further noted that unless the government deploys drastic measures to stem the tide of brain drain, the already bad national health indices may eventually spiral out of control, thereby leaving Nigeria at the bottom rung among the comity of nations.
