Rural healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers, have submitted a plea to the Minister of Health and Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and the executive secretary of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Muyi Aina, due to several months of outstanding payments causing financial hardship and disillusionment among them.

These health workers, who are part of the Expanded Midwives Service Scheme operated by the Federal Government through NPHCDA, claimed that the government has overlooked their situation despite assurances to resolve the matter.

The petition, signed by some of the affected healthcare providers and shared with Waka on Sunday, highlighted the emotional distress caused by the prolonged delay in receiving salaries, allowances, and benefits. They expressed feelings of abandonment, low morale, and exhaustion, with many struggling to support their families and meet financial obligations.

Wakadaily previously reported on the accumulating salary arrears and alleged mistreatment from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Sydani Group, which left the healthcare providers traumatized, impoverished, and stranded.

Concerns were raised about the lack of support for these healthcare workers, who work tirelessly in rural areas, with various individuals claiming to be owed different periods of unpaid salaries.

In response to the initial report, the agency’s Communications Adviser, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, pledged to expedite the payment of the arrears.

However, only one month’s payment was made to some workers out of the several months they were owed, leaving many still awaiting payments for several months, including August, October, November, and December 2023.

Despite the agency’s statement that arrears for 2023 had been settled, some health workers reported ongoing issues with online payments and discrepancies in the clearance processes conducted by states.

The healthcare providers emphasized that the partial payment made has provided little relief from their financial struggles and reiterated their frustrations with the outstanding arrears in a new petition sent to the Health Minister.

They called for the implementation of an organized and efficient payment system to ensure timely and consistent salary disbursements.

The petition read in part, “We, the medical staff contracted by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, under the expanded midwife service scheme project, are writing to you today with a heavy heart, frustration and in full confidence that only you can rescue us from the precarious situation we found ourselves presently.

“We have unwavering trust in your capabilities in resolving the too many problems bedevilling the Nigerian health care system, and this is typically one of them. Please do not let us down because the agency that employed us has done that already, and it is for that reason we are running to you because we believe the welfare of the average health professional should be a topmost priority if we must have a formidable health care industry. After all, a hungry CHEW, doctor, nurse/midwife cannot care effectively for the population we swear to meet their health needs and reduce the high Maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate in the country.

“It will interest you to know that upon our employment in June 2023, NPHCDA asked us to resign from our places of employment, but we were all unexplainably denied July salary and when they paid us in December for August and September, not everyone got their money. And later we got paid for the remaining months of the year out of struggle.

“This year, we have only been paid January salary, which came in late April after a series of newspaper publications, since then, we have not received any salary and we are suffering.

“Honourable minister, for over three months, many of us have not received our salaries, and some colleagues have not been paid since we were first contracted.

“This financial hardship has placed a tremendous emotional and mental strain on us, jeopardizing our ability to serve the Nigerian people effectively and we can no longer care for our family and meet our basic needs.

“We understand the current economic difficulties facing our nation. However, this situation has become untenable. We navigate daily challenges like outrageous transportation costs just to reach our workplaces, all while facing the ever-present threat of insecurity. Yet, despite these difficulties, we remain dedicated to providing quality healthcare to our communities.

“We are driven by a deep sense of duty and a genuine desire to serve those in need, still, our efforts are not being appreciated and reciprocated by my NPHCDA.

“The uncertainty surrounding our salaries is causing immense anxiety and despair, many of us struggle to afford basic necessities like food and shelter for our families. This constant financial worry spills over into our professional lives, affecting our morale and focus when we should be fully present for our patients.”

While appealing to the Health Minister to intervene in ensuring the payment of all the outstanding salaries owed by the professionals contracted by NPHCDA, the health workers added, ” Therefore, we implore you, Minister and the Federal government, to take immediate action to address this critical issue.

“We urgently request the facilitation of the payment of all outstanding salaries owed to the professionals contracted by NPHCDA. Additionally, we believe a permanent solution is necessary. We request the establishment of a well-organized and efficient payment system to ensure timely and consistent salary disbursement in the future.

“We believe that a healthy and motivated workforce is vital for a healthy nation. By addressing our concerns, you will not only alleviate the financial burden we carry but also empower us to continue serving Nigerians with the dedication and compassion they deserve by employing us directly to become an integral and permanent workforce in the health facilities we are.”