FG begins benefits payment to deceased doctors

The Federal Government, on Thursday, disclosed it has started the payment of death benefits to deceased doctors and other health workers under the Group Life Insurance.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, made this known after a meeting between the representatives of Federal Government and the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors.

Ngige, who depicted the meeting as ‘very fruitful,’ said Head of Service Office of the Federation showed evidence that insurance companies had begun paying up.

The Minister said the evidence confirmed what the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, informed the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

This was contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman, Charles Akpan, entitled, ‘We have commenced payment of death benefits to deceased doctors -FG.’

Ngige stated, “Over a billion Naira is for payment as death benefits. Evidence has been tendered about those who have received the cheques.

“And so, we are happy that something has been done in that direction in health institutions. This is apart from what happens in other government establishments covered by this life insurance.”

As regards the Residency Training Fund, which is supposed to be in 2021 budget, the Minister disclosed that the Budget Office of the Federation has also provided evidence to show that the N4.3b due to them was captured under the personnel costs in service wide votes.

Ngige declared that work is in progress for those who are migrating from the Government Financial Management Information Systems platform to Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, stating that the budget and IPPIS offices were given about 30 days to conclude all the outstanding issues.

The Minister said a committee has been set up to investigate the issue of tertiary institutions that are not complying with the abolition of bench fees.

Ngige said, “Bench fees are fees paid by residents to institutions where they have gone to acquire trainings that are not available in their original training institutions.

“They (resident doctors) have claimed that some training hospitals like Lagos University Teaching Hospital and University College Ibadan are not adhering to that agreement and a special committee has been set up under the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health to look into it.

“The Chairman of Committee of CMD’s, Prof. Jaf Momoh who is the CMD of National Hospital Abuja will assist him. We hope that matter will be sorted out in two weeks.”