Abia Approves Recruitment Of 771 Doctors, New Salary Scale For Health Workers

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

To improve healthcare service delivery, the Abia State Government has approved the recruitment of about 771 Medical Doctors, Nurses, and other healthcare professionals into the healthcare sector.

Similarly, to attract and retain critical human resources within the health sector in the State, Governor Alex Otti also approved a new salary scale for the State’s healthcare workers .

A statement on Wednesday April 30, 2025, from the Commissioner for health, Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, informed that the new and improved salary structure – the Abia State Health Workers Salary Scale, ASHWOSS, will take effect as from May, 1, 2025.

According to the Commissioner, the new salary scale effectively brings Abia State Health workers to the same level with their Federal counterparts, who are at CONMESS,(Consolidated Medical Salary Scale for Doctors)  and CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Scale for Nurses, Pharmacists ,Physiotherapists and other health professionals).

“This means that Abia Health Workers, with effect from May 1 ,2025, will begin to enjoy the same pay as their Federal Government counterparts”, Prof Uche Stated.

The Health Commissioner noted that the 771 health Personnel to be recruited was arrived at based on the outcome of the needs assessment carried out at  Health Facilities across the State.

The recruitment exercise, he stated, will include Doctors, Nurses ,Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, as well as other categories of Healthcare Workers.

“His Excellency has also approved the release of funds to cover the emoluments of the 771 new staff to be recruited into the healthcare system.

“To attract ,and retain critical human resources for health talents in the State, His Excellency has directed the Ministry of Health to negotiate special emolument package to attract consultants and specialists of rare, but critical medical fields, and medical experts with special skills including laparoscopy, and minimally invasive surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care, transplant, and robotic surgery, cardiac and neurosurgery, neonatology, interventional (radiology ,neurology, cardiology and nephrology) ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics and plastic surgery on a case by case basis as may be applicable. All above approvals will take effect from May 1,2025”, the Health Commissioner noted.