Budget Cuts Leave 1,500 Health Workers Unpaid for 20 Months
Over 1,500 health professionals under the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) have gone unpaid for 20 months due to a federal directive cutting funding to certain agencies.
EHCON, which played key roles during the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks, was excluded from the 2024 budget after being reclassified under the Ministry of Environment. While 13 health agencies were later exempted and paid, EHCON received no allocation.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to restore EHCON’s funding, citing the critical role its workers play in disease prevention and public health.
