Authorities of the Nigerian
Prisons Service (NPS), our investigation has revealed, have since 2011 been
cornering not less than the sum of N7 billion annually through what can be
described as illegal means.
The money was meant to serve as
professional allowances for medical and health workers working under the
service, documents available to Blueprint have shown.
The condition of service for
paramilitary health workers specified by the National Salaries Incomes and
Wages Commission (NSIWC) provides for payment for call of duty, hazard and
other allowances for medical staff in addition to their salaries, which is paid
on the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (COMPASS) approved by the
federal government.
However, billions of naira
being earmarked for medical allowances over the years by the government were
allegedly being diverted to other uses as the affected staff members groan over
non-payments of such allowances by the management of the NPS.
Last year, over N3 billion was
appropriated for the purpose.
Some of the aggrieved staff,
who petitioned the National Assembly, the Ministry of Finance and
anti-corruption agencies on the issue, claimed that the NPS top hierarchy
refused to pay them such allowances in spite of series of clarifications by the
NSIWC and the clear provision of the said money in the appropriation act.
A series of communications
between the NSIWC and the Prisons Service between 1991and 2012 showed how the
NPS severally demanded for explanation regarding the status of the health
workers in its employment and the NSIWC insisted that the workers are entitled
to the medical allowances as applied to their colleagues elsewhere in the
public service.
The commission, in a letter
dated February 3, 2012 and signed by one U.S. Ukut, stated, “Medical and health
professionals employed as prisons officers should be remunerated on the basis
of the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS),” in addition to
medical allowances on the basis of the Consolidated Medical Structure (CONMESS)
and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Documents obtained by Blueprint showed that in the 2012 fiscal year,
the federal government voted over N3.12 billion of such allowances for NPS
staff. However, the workers denied receiving any money in form of allowances.
In a reply to an inquiry by the
NOS in June last year, the NISWC corroborated the claim that allocation is
being made to take care of the medical workers’ allowance.
“…In addition to the provision
of N42,940,923,191.00 for the payment of CONPASS, N395,278,545.00 and
N2,2,728,807,612.00 were also provided in the 2012 budget for the payment of
CONMESS and CONHESS in NPS,” part of the letter dated June 1 reads.
In their anonymous petition
addressed to the Senate President and heads of relevant government agencies,
the affected staff lamented what they called the “monumental fraud” and
short-changing of the government and workers. A health worker with the NPS told
our correspondent that they have been silent regarding the anomaly for fear of
being victimised.
He said: “We have been living
under penurious condition occasioned by this wicked deprivation, over the
years. We also live under the shadow of fear for threats victimisation for
standing to fight for our rights.
“We, therefore, find it
necessary to draw your kind attention to this monumental case of fraud and
short-changing of both the government and workers to the tune of billions of
naira annually. We appeal that you use your good office to investigate this
case and ensure justice and transparency in this matter.”
But when contacted, the
management of the Nigerian Prisons Service debunked the claims of the health
workers regarding the non-payment of the entitlements.
The NPS spokesman, DCP Kayode Odeyemi,
said the story is untrue and that “all staff, weather medical or general duty
or whatever, Nigeria Prisons Service pay their allowances as at when due. The
Service does not owe any staff in form of allowances or salaries.”
Source: Blueprint
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