The Federal Government increases hazard allowance for workers at NAFDAC, NCDC, and other agencies.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has endorsed a significant increase in the hazard allowance for non-hospital-based healthcare workers nationwide.

This development was officially announced in a circular dated July 26, 2023, signed by Ekpo Nta, the Chairman and CEO of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission. The circular, entitled “Review of hazard allowance for non-hospital-based agencies on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure,” indicates an affirmative response to previous discussions on the subject.

According to the circular, “In line with our circular No. SWC/S/04/S.218/II/405 dated December 22, 2021, the Federal Government has granted approval for an increase in hazard allowance for non-hospital based healthcare professionals in the federal public service.” This suggests that the move has been in the pipeline for some time.

The revised hazard allowance structure includes professionals on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure from grade levels one to five, and those on CONHESS from grade level six to 15, all of whom will now receive N18,000 instead of the previous N10,000.

Furthermore, the allowance for healthcare workers from grade level one to 10 on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure has been increased from N10,000 to N18,000. This revision came into effect on June 1, 2023.

The agencies affected by this revision include the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, the National Health Insurance Authority, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, among others.