Health Workers Kick Against 3% Deduction

Primary Health care work
ers under the aegis of Primary Health Care Workers Association of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter have appealed to the state government to stop the monthly deduction of 3% of their salaries to the Primary Health Care Board.
The Health workers who spoke through their President, Barr. Daniel Atieme at Abua/Odual Council secretariat said the 3% monthly deduction which amounts to over N100 million was not being used by the Primary Health Care Board for their welfare but for the welfare of the Board and its members.
Speaking during the state-wide tour being embarked upon by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employe’s (NULGE), led by its President, Sir Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, which took the union to the Abua/Odual Local Government Council to interface with their members.
Barr. Atieme contended that rather than allowing the Board to take over N100 million from their salaries monthly since the establishment of the Board in  2010, the money should be retained as part of their salaries and paid to the workers monthly.
He said that the current struggle of NULGE against the recent approval given by the government for the deduction of Health Workers salaries at source at JAAC to the same Board for payment to Health workers was a just struggle that should be sustained, wondering why the Board wants to take over the payment of their salaries when the 3% deduction has not been utilised to improve the lots of the workers.
Atieme joined NULGE to appeal to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to rescind his decision on the issue, as it is not in the best interest of their members, fearing that it would be a channel to siphon the workers salaries and enrich a few at the detriment of the entire system.
Also speaking, Barr. Ajinwo noted that the workers supervising commission- the Local Government Service Sommission receives only one percent (1%) of Local Government allocations monthly and puts it to judicious use, including training of workers and paying its staff salaries, whereas the Health Care Board that receives 3% has nothing to show for the huge deduction to them.

Justus Unye-Awaji

The Executive Director of RIVSACA, Dr Chimeizie Okeh during an HIV/AIDS training programme at Etche. With him are leaders of the Christain Association of Nigeria, Etche Chapter.