Mark Ignatius (not real name) a Lagos-based business owner, has narrated how the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and U-Reporter, refused to pay him after he worked as an ad-hoc worker on a Covid-19 vaccination project in June.

Ignatius told FIJ he volunteered to work on a project involving both UNICEF and U-Reporter in June 2022 but was not paid the N28,400 due to him months after project completion.

He further said that before embarking on the project, an agreement that he and other volunteers would be paid N2000 daily was reached.

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“I worked as EMID recorder and validator for the Covid-19 validation project. My duty included taking records of people who took the Covid vaccine,” Ignatius said.

“For this task, we were told we would be paid N2,000 daily as the project would last for six days. Myself and every other person worked on the project for six days but we were told we would need to do a mop-up exercise for two extra days.

“We did the mop-up and were asked to come for verification so we could be paid.

“Before the verification however, there were two campaigns; one in Kosofe and another in Ikorodu. I was part of both campaigns and so I was expecting to be paid N28,400.”

NAME DISAPPEARS ON PAYMENT LIST

Ignatius said he later visited both the Ikorodu and Ogudu health centres for the verification exercise but was told his name was not on the list of those to be paid for the 12-day campaign.

“When I got to Ogudu in Kosofe, they said my name was not captured on their system. Meanwhile, at the start of the campaign, we supplied personal information, including our bank details,” he said.

“Even those we worked together in the same ward could not find their names on the list. They assured us that it was going to be resolved as it was just a mix-up. We wrote down our names again and were told to expect payment.

“Soon, they began paying but it was done randomly. Later on, I realised we ought to have been paid because those who registered for the exercise after me had received their payment.”

Ignatius said while the delay in payment continued, there were rumours that some of the focal persons at the Kosofe centre had removed the names of those who actually worked on the project and replaced them with names of their choice.

“The focal person at the Ikosi Health Centre in Kosofe called me to ask if I have been paid. When I told him I was yet to receive my payment, he asked me to find out if the other persons I worked along with had been paid but it was the same for them too,” he said.

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“Later we heard that focal persons in the ward had added some peoples’ names to the list. The names of those who were not involved in the project were added to the list at the expense of those who actually worked.

“Apart from Kosofe, the same thing is happening in Ikorodu where I also worked.

“Now, I don’t know when I would eventually get paid the N28,400 I am expecting from both exercises.”

FIJ SPOKE TO IMPLEMENTATION OFFICERS

When FIJ spoke with Tobi Fayombo, the Covid-19 implementation officer in Ogudu, she said UNICEF had paid the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board to disburse money to workers.

“After they worked, many of them were paid, but I guess it was a mistake from the account department that the rest did not receive their payment. We asked them to send us a list of those who were yet to receive their payment,” said Fayombo.

“Their names have been forwarded to the account department of the primary health care board for payment, but they have to verify some names based on the number of people that worked.

“They said they couldn’t do just one LGA as they had to make all the payments at once. That is why it is taking time.”

The Covid-19 implementation officer in Ikorodu, who simply identified himself as Marvellous, said the case would be resolved as the board was trying to pay workers under all the local governments at once.

“I am not happy they are yet to receive their payments. If I was in the position to give them, they would have been paid.

“People have been receiving their payments but his might be delayed because it is a transaction, and they have also been asked to submit their names.”