After CrispNG’s investigation, Niger pays midwives backlog salaries
Barely a week after the publication of an investigation funded by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR) the Niger state has paid the backlog of salaries owed to health workers.
The investigation which was done under the International Budget Partnership (IBP) supported SPARK 2 project (Strengthening Public Accountability For Results and Knowledge) and titled ‘Midwives’ Silent Struggle: Delayed Payments Plunge Niger State Healthcare Providers Into Financial Distress, Debts’ was published by Crispng.com, SaharaReporters and several other media organisations.
These midwives, who were employed on a contract basis in 2022 under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) were paid N62,000 each per month and had a backlog salary of six months before the ICIR-funded investigation.
Some of the affected midwives confirmed that they had been paid, but they were cautious about providing additional information about the payment because the agency had warned them not to speak to the media.
When pressed for proof of the payment one of the midwives said, “I just confirmed to you that I have been paid; you can confirm from others and the agency for more details.”
According to sources, the midwives were paid a four-month backlog of their salary depending on how many months each person has been on the job, with some having a backlog of three, four, five, or six months depending on when each person started.
“They were paid for four months, but the July payment was not made,” a source said.
The Agency’s troubling response to the investigation
The Niger state Primary HealthCare Development Agency (NSPHCDA) response to the investigation was not limited to the payment of the backlog. it also took steps to counter report by calling the affected midwives to their head office in Minna, the state capital, away from the place of their primary assignment to record a video titled ‘Midwives’ Silent Struggle: Niger State Healthcare Provider As a Shining Example Through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund BHCPF’.
The video which was made public sought to discredit the investigation, however, the midwives interviewed in the video all stated they were owed backlogs and have now been paid.
Interestingly, one of the findings of the investigations is absence and dearth of health workers like midwives at the PHCs visited, against this backdrop, the NSPHCDA still removed these midwives from their PHCs and took them to the state capital to record a counter video, this most likely means some patients will not be receiving health services for that period.
The video was circulated with a rejoinder which started with “Niger State Ministry of Healthcare Development, has chosen to analysed and evaluated the impact of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund BHCPF from a report… by publishing six months of delay instead of two months.” This contradicts the video recorded by the agency which has all the midwives saying they were owed more than two month.
In addition, The ICIR obtained a message sent to the health workers communication channels asking them not to speak with the reporter, while falsely accusing him of impersonation.
Part of the message reads , “I don’t know what he has against Niger state that he wants to use us as bait or scapegoat. May we not fall victims to tools or agents for destroying anyone or any society.”
This is interesting considering the salary owed midwives was what was affecting and “destroying” the “society” as it led to lack of service delivery and absenteeism, as some of the midwives could not afford transport to work.
The attempt to manipulate the narrative and silence the midwives reflects a troubling response to legitimate inquiries about the welfare of essential healthcare providers.
Sources alleged the message to silence midwives was with the knowledge of the state director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics, Inuwa Junaidu.
Junaidu has however confirmed that the backlog salary has been settled. He said “It has been settled. It is not a rumour sir, and you may wish to confirm from the midwives themselves”.
- This report republished from Crispng was made possible with support from the International Budget Partnership (IBP), and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, (ICIR) under the Strengthening Public Accountability For Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project.
