By Chidinma Ufomadu
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has warned Nigerian doctors with the intention of migrating to the United Kingdom to be aware that they will not be paid hazard allowance if they relocate.
The minister made this statement of warning during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Thursday, in response to a question relating to the failed endeavours of 58 doctors trying to travel to the UK last week.
Reports has it that medical doctors in Nigeria earned N5,000 as monthly hazard allowance until June.
The Nigeria Immigration Service prevented 58 doctors at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, who had gained provisional employment in the UK from travelling due to the absence of visas.
Osagie said, “I think we are one of the few countries giving hazard allowance. This UK where they are going, there is no hazard allowance; they don’t give doctors hazard allowance but you just get you salary. That is all because I have spoken to the doctors there.”
The minister explained that Nigeria is one of a few countries that pay hazard allowance.
He said, “They say it is part of your job and that is what you are trained for. They don’t pay you anything but here, apart from your salary, we try to add something to it with the hope that you will stay.
“We also appeal to state governments to prioritise the employment of doctors, some of whom have not been employed.”
He explained that Nigeria is not the only country having such issues, as he is aware of doctors in the UK who are also migrating.
“Even in the UK they are losing doctors to other countries so they think there is a movement but I think we have to look at our own situation the best way we can,” he said.
Osagie maintained that the doctors were free to relocate if only they have visas.
He stated, “With regards to the 58 doctors, we were all surprised to hear that they were at the airport and it was irregular in that many of them did not have visas. I don’t know what evidence you have, whether they have left the country but no one should leave the country without a visa.
The minister affirmed that it is expected of Nigerian doctors who studied in Nigeria through discounts on schooling or scholarship to stay in their country and return to the society what was given to them.
He said, “Those who were trained through scholarship or whose training was subsidised and have jobs here actually have a moral responsibility to give back because even now, we have large numbers of Nigerian doctors in the UK, the US and Europe who apply to come here every year and serve even though they weren’t trained here or at the state’s expense.
“It is just a moral obligation. They are called the Diaspora Health Professionals Initiative. Some spend their own money; come with their own equipment even though they owe the country nothing.”
