Sam Kaye
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved a new remuneration package for medical doctors in the state government employments.
Krestnews.com reports that all medical doctors in the state civil service are to earn packages equivalent to those in the employment of the federal government.
Governor Zulum announced the approval on Wednesday while delivering his address at the 65th National Council on Health forum which was held at Muhammadu Indimi Hall, University of Maiduguri.
The Health Council Meeting hosted for the second time by Borno State was themed, “Accelerating Pathway to Universal Health Coverage Strategies for 2030.”
Zulum directed the State head of service and the Commissioner of health to liaise with the relevant federal agencies to bridge gaps in payment between medical doctors working for the state and those with the federal government.
The Governor directed that the proposed pay rise for the medical doctors be implemented from the 1st of December 2024.
“Link up with the relevant federal government agencies and ensure there is no disparity between salaries of the federal government workers and those working with the state government.
“As at December 1, medical doctors working with Borno State government will receive the same salary as those working with the federal government.” Zulum assured
The Governor also stated that Borno has complied with the Abuja Declaration, which requires every state of the federation to allocate at least 15% of its annual budget to health care.
“I am proud to share that Borno State has taken significant steps towards meeting the Abuja Declaration. In our recent budget, we have prioritised health infrastructure, increased access to maternal and child health services, and allocated resources for critical disease control programmes,” the Governor reiterated.
Governor Zulum also recalled that the state government has paid for the residency allowances of doctors working for the state amounting to over N300m and another N100m to support the indigenes of Borno working with other health facilities across the country.
In their separate remarks, the Minister of health, Professor Mohammed Pate and his counterpart, for state, Iziaq Salako, stressed the need for collaborative efforts to achieve universal health coverage by 2023.
Professor Pate also stated that President Tinubu is committed to upgrading the health infrastructure of the entire country.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu is focused on revitalising the health sector to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030 through prioritising training and retraining, infrastructural upgrade and maternal health coverage,” Prof Pate said.
The Shehu of Dikwa, Ibrahim Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, who was repressing the Shehu of Borno, led other Emirs, chiefs, and traditional title holders to attend the occasion.
Others in attendance include heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health, the 36 commissioners of health across the country, UN health agencies and development partners.
Also in attendance were senior government officials, including the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salim Ibrahim Anas, Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uzu Rochas-Anwikah, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, among other delegates.(www.krestnews.com)