Two nuclear centres under the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, have taken their protest over non-payment of hazard and high-risk allowances to the House of Representatives.
In a letter to the Speaker, Abass Tajudeen, in January, 2024, they claimed that the allowances are paid to the civil servants in NAEC, but not paid to them who actually operate the ionising-radiation emitting devices.
Nigeria has a 30kw nuclear research reactor in the Centre for Energy Research and Training, CERT, in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Tandem Accelerator in the Centre for Energy Research and Development, CERD, in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, both managed by NAEC.
Speaker Tajudeen directed the House Committee on Renewable Energy to investigate the complaints.
The Committee Chairman, Victor Afam Ogene, invited the two nuclear centres to a public hearing on 18 April, 2024, in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Their complaint was confirmed and the Budget Office was blamed for the lapse.
The House Committee recommended some level of autonomy for the two nuclear centres and advised the Accountant General of the Federation to ensure that they are paid all the approved allowances.
