FG stops payment of salary for housemanship, NYSC doctors
“The National Council on Establishment (NCE) at its 42nd meeting held from 30th November – 4th December 2020 in Ikeja, Lagos State reviewed the current status on internship programmes/ housemanship/ NYSC Doctors in Service, and approved their removal from the Scheme of Service as posts attracting grade level in the salary structure,” the statement reads.
The National Council on Establishment (NCE) announced that it would stop the payment of salaries for medical doctors on housemanship programmes but would rather consider them for allowances.
The NCE decision was contained in a memo signed by Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan.
It stated that members, at a meeting held in Lagos between November 30 to December 4, 2020, approved the removal of members of NYSC, interns and housemen from the federal government grade level salary structure.
The council, according to the memo, agreed to stop the payment of salaries on the grounds that the services provided are considered as training to enrolled members in their respective professions.
According to the council, the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission will determine whether they will be paid an allowance instead of salaries.
“The National Council on Establishment (NCE) at its 42nd meeting held from 30th November – 4th December 2020 in Ikeja, Lagos State reviewed the current status on internship programmes/ housemanship/ NYSC Doctors in Service, and approved their removal from the Scheme of Service as posts attracting grade level in the salary structure,” the statement reads.
“The Council based its decision on the grounds that the period of these programmes/services form part of the training in their respective professions. interns shall, however, be considered for the payment of allowance to be determined by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission,” it added.
The federal government has had a torrid time meeting the demands of various workers unions who often demand better conditions of service. The nation has endured many strike actions from these bodies who are forced to embark on industrial action to press home their demands.
The National Association of Resident Doctors called off its strikes last week after several days of strike. Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria have been on strike for over a week due to non-payment of their salaries by the federal government.
The Nigerian government has continued to fall short in its responsibility to workers welfare.
