The statement clarified that the government circular did not imply stopage of salaries for interns. It also stated that the government neither intended to interupt nor interfere with the salaries and allowances of interns in consideration of the fact that they are trainees under the various establishments they are working.

Recall that cpanworld had previously reported the circular on decisions of the National Council on Establsihments (NCE) to remove interns and NYSC professionals from the Federal Government Scheme of service. Leaving any futher payments of allowances to them at the discretion of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commision. This was as detailed in the document signed by the Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan. The National Council on Establishments (NCE) is the highest decision making body in the civil sevice. The decision to remove Interns from the civil service scheme was ratified at its 42nd meeting held in Lagos on November 30, 2020.

The press statement is here reproduced:

“OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION.

PRESS STATEMENT

RE:CIRCULAR ON INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME IN CIVIL/PUBLIC SERVICE.

The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to publications making the rounds on social media platforms with regard to the ” Establishment Circular” on the above subject. It has therefore become important to make the following clarifications:

i. The Circular does not in any way suggest or prescribe the discontinuance of remuneration, salaries and earned allowances for interns as being speculated ;

ii. Moreover, internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a specified period of time. It is typically undertaken by students and fresh graduates to gain relevant skills in a particular field before being admitted as practitioners of the particular profession ; and

iii. The Schemes of Service details the requirements for full employment and career progression within the Civil/Public Service.

2. It is important to reiterate that the circular does not seek to alter the wage structures of the internship programmes of different professions.
3. The above clarifications are for the avoidance of doubt and further guidance.

Signed:
AbdulGaniyu Aminu
Director, Press and Public Relations.
Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF)
24/4/2021″

This rejoinder by the Office of the Head of Service raises even more questions as to the position of government on the status of Interns in the Federal Civil Service scheme. Both the circular arising from the decisions made by the National Council on Establishments and the rejoinder released by the Office of the Head of Service who signed the circular seem contradictory and will need further clarification among stakeholders to alay their fears.

The news generated backlash and fury from health professionals who took to social media expressing dissapointment and frustration at the seeming lack of concern of government for the welfare of budding Healthcare professionals which tends to demoralise up comming professionals.

The post HEAD OF SERVICE DENIES STOPPING INTERNS SALARIES. first appeared on CPAN WORLD.

The NCE says that in consideration of the fact that the Interns are presumed to be on training they should not be entitled to a full Salary scale from the government. The NCE further left payment of allowances to the interns to the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission. The circular was signed by the Head of Civil Service Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan who is a Dentist and best graduating dental student from the University of Ibadan in 1987.

The press release is here reproduced as follows:

“Head of Service of the Federation
HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/CND. 100/S.10/11/112

12th April, 2021

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME IN THE CIVIL/PUBLIC SERVICE

The National Council on Establishments (NCE) at its 42nd meeting held from 30th November 4th December, 2020 in lkeja, Lagos State reviewed the current status of internship programmes/housemanship/NYSC Doctors in the Service, and approved their removal from the Schemes of Service as posts attracting grade levels in the salary structure.

The Council based its decision on the grounds that the period of these programmes/services form part of the trainings in their respective professions. Interns shall, however, be considered for the payment of allowance to be determined by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. This approval will be reflected in subsequent edition of the Schemes of Service.

Signed

Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation”

Recall that Medical Doctors are paid based on an approved Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) outside of the regular civil service salary structure. Doctors on mandatory Internship/housemanship (House Officers) were previously on the CONMESS salary scale as Federal civil servants. It was based on this premise that states and private institutions place Doctors and Pharmacists on full salary scale.

For many years it had been a standard practice for institutions to pay Medical House Officers and Pharmacist Interns in Pharmacy, Optometry and other professions who are on the mandatory 1 year internship programmes prerequisite to full licensing by their various regulatory bodies after which they proceed on mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). House officers and Interns were previously entitled to full salaries and some of the allowances that government staff enjoy include designated accommodation depending on the institution they found themselves.

In recent years Medical Doctors on houseman-ship have been known to protest non-payment of salaries and entitlements for months even up till the end of their houseman-ship programme.
House officers have been known to take to social media to cry out against presumed injustice following the non- payment or half payment of their salaries after the centralization by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). Some accused Medical Directors of Federal Health Institutions of not cooperating with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s push for House officer salaries. Examples are protests which occurred in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Questions are being raised of what the future hold for young graduates in the Health sciences, such as Medicine and Pharmacy, who would otherwise be on internships. Surely applying to Federal government institutions for Internships will become less attractive. Also it is yet to be seen whether the state governments and other private institutions who absorb Interns and NYSC Pharmacists and Doctors will follow suite.

The post NO MORE SALARIES FOR INTERNS & HOUSE OFFICERS first appeared on CPAN WORLD.