By Ahmed Sanni
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has approved full implementation of the 2014 Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for resident doctors working under the State Ministry of Health.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Shehu and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.
According to him, the governor made the pronouncement at a media chat on Sunday, 3rd September 2023 as part of activities marking his first 100 days in office.
The governor also addressed wide range of issues across different sectors, including health, security and infrastructural development, among others.
He explained that the recommendations followed the report of a negotiations committee led by the State Head of Service.
He said that during negotiations with striking doctors in August, it was revealed that resident doctors in the State Ministry of Health received 75% of the 2014 CONMESS, while their counterparts working at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital receive 100% of CONMESS.
The statement noted that, consequently, the governor directed that from September, the approved 100% CONMESS will bring resident doctors in the Ministry of Health at par with their counterparts at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.
This step, the Governor added, will further boost productivity and attract more doctors to the state.
The governor also announced that approval had been granted for the continuation of the recruitment of 89 medical doctors to address the staffing gap identified in 2017, as recommended by the committee.
“This initiative, amongst others was designed to enhance doctors’ morale and improve access to quality healthcare for Kaduna residents.
“You will recall that we recently flagged off the distribution of advanced medical equipment to our upgraded primary health care centres.
“This reflects our administration’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen/resident has access to a primary healthcare center within a kilometer of their residence,” the governor added.
He underscored the positive results of his interactions with development partners, noting that the increase in investors attracted to Kaduna was due to the business-friendly environment created by his administration.
Addressing the issue of uncompleted projects inherited from the immediate past administration, Governor Sani reassured the people of the State that all projects will be completed.
He said there would be renewed focus on transforming the rural areas in the coming months.
Speaking on security, Governor Sani expressed appreciation to the security agencies in the State for their support in training old and newly-recruited 7000 men and women of the State Vigilance Service.
He also stressed the urgency of effective policing and recognised the necessity for State Police Force to complement the efforts of national security agencies.
The Governor thanked the people for their trust and confidence reposed in his administration, calling for continued support and cooperation as the administration moves into top gear in its quest to leave a legacy of peace, ethnic and religious harmony, and even development.
