The Socialist Party of Nigeria, SPN has called on the Federal and States government across Nigeria to pay the sum of One hundred thousand naira as monthly allowance for health workers and professionals responding to the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.
SPN made the demand in a press statement jointly signed by its Acting National Chairperson, Abiodun Bamigboye and the National Secretary, Chinedu Bosah with the aim of achieving a free, adequately-funded and democratically-managed public healthcare.
The proposed ₦100, 000 special monthly Covid-19 allowance is expected to be in addition to the normal salaries and statutory allowances of the medical professionals.
SPN equally demands the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances to doctors and other health workers and professionals in the country.
The statement reads in part that, “the provision of Personal Protective Equipment and free medication for all health professionals and workers at the frontline of the war against the pandemic.
“Given the high risk of infection faced by health care workers, the SPN also demands that the government take out a life insurance scheme for all health care workers. This will further encourage them to remain devoted to save the rest of the populace from the Covid-19 pandemic
“We also call on both state and federal governments to provide adequate testing kits and all other necessary equipment that will allow health care workers to be fully functional.
“We propose that this payment and provision of other facilities should be the joint responsibility of the Federal Government, the State governments and the local governments all of whom regularly draw from and benefit from the Federation account”, it added.