By Correspondent in Lokoja
Medical doctors on the payroll of the Kogi state government now have cause to smile, following the implementation of the revised 2014 Corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for the affected doctors by the government.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kogi Hospital Management Board (KHMB), Dr Zakari Usman, who gave this indication while speaking with the press in Lokoja on Friday, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the implementation of such salary structure for those concerned.
He further confirmed that the revised CONMESS for Kogi doctors was effected in January 2021.
Usman commended the governor for the move, adding that it was an indication that Bello always think health first.
”His Excellency is a health friendly governor of our state who has just recently considered and approved the revised CONMESS of 2014 for our doctors.
”This he has demonstrated to us that yes, among the the areas of interventions, health is indeed second only to education”, Usman said.
The CMD also lauded the state government for embarking on the building of three new hospitals in the state; a Reference Hospital in Okene, Ultramodern General Hospitals in Gegu in Kotonkarfe, and in Eganyi in Ajaokuta LGA.
He added that inspite of the rehabilitation work ongoing at Kogi Specialist Hospital Lokoja and the proposed upgrading of the Zonal Hospitals in Idah and Isanlu,the governed still consider it necessary to approve and implement the 2014 CONMESS for Kogi doctors.
”This is appreciated by us at the hospital management board, and by implications I am sure the other health agencies; the Specialist, and Teaching hospitals are also very appreciative because the doctors are excited”, he said.
He expressed optimism that the implemention of CONMESS would reflect in the dedication of medical doctors as well as impact on their work ethics.
Usman assured that the doctors would reciprocate the gesture with dedication to work, high professionalism, saying, ”we do not expect to see any form of tiredness at the places of work.”To whom much is given; much is expected”.
”We are excited at the prospects of what the health sector stand to benefit from this gesture of His Excellency.
”Not all States have implemented the 2014 revised CONMESS for their doctors; Kogi is one of the few states that had done this.
”From this month salary, I have gathered from doctors that most of them had already received salaries in accordance with revised CONMESS of 2014.
”I am also optimistic that the issue of full CONHESS for other categories of health care workers and call duty allowances for Optometrist will receive prompt and urgent attention”, he said.
The medical director further thanked the Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, who he noted had worked assiduously to ensure that the agitation for CONMESS came into fruition.
He called on doctors of the state origin in particular and other parts of the federation to come home and join hand to build Kogi health sector.
He added that there was a planned recruitment of healthcare workers to bridge the human resource gap.
The Reporters recalls that doctors in the state government pay roll had been agitating for the implementation of the revised CONMESS,a process that saw them down tools in some instances while the agitation lasted.
The online publication learnt that the state government is also making move to place civilian servants who have been stagnated on one salary grade for long on, their next grade to boost their morale for higher productivity among others.
A reliable source close to the state Ministry of Finance, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Reporters that civilian servants whose promotions have not been cash backed for years would soon positive changes in their salary.
“Everything has been concluded to cash back all promotions, civil servants who have been looking toward enhanced salary due to promotion will also join medical doctors in smiling home as from next month, hopefully,” he said.
