COVID-19: Edo government speaks on protests by lab scientists

BENIN, Nigeria – Edo State Government has explained that government  is not owing lab scientists salary arrears but that the reason for the protest they embarked upon was to press home their demands for equal pay with Frontline Scientists in the various isolation centres.

Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on media, Mr. Benjamin Atu who made the revelation said ‘the protest was not because the lab scientists have not been paid but because some of them who are in the Mobile Screening Section claimed to be professional Laboratory Personnel and should be paid equal amount with those Laboratory Personnel who are in the front line in the isolation centres”.

According to him, those Laboratory Scientists on mobile screening refused to collect same amount with those collecting data’s and other details because they said they are professionals and should not be paid equal with others. 

“Their demand is not the problem but yielding themselves to be used as political tools to blackmail the government is the issue.

“Why not come and discuss your challenge rather than going to the street as if the Government is not passionate about Health workers”, he said, adding that Government has scheduled a meeting tomorrow ( Monday)  for the Commissioner for Health to interface with their leaders and directors of Medical Lab Services in order to harmonised their payment and other related issue.