Otti Approves New Salary Scale for Abia Health Workers, Recruitment of 771 New Staff

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has approved a new salary scale for Health Care workers, otherwise known as the Abia State Health Workers Salary Scale (ASHWOSS).

Also approved is the recruitment of 771 new health workers based on the result of needs assessment performed across the health facilities and agencies of the Ministry of Health.

In a release signed by the Commissioner for Health Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, the new salary structure, will put the State health workers at par with their counterparts at the Federal level.

These include: CONMESS – Consolidated Medical Salary Scale for Doctors and CONHESS – Consolidated Health Salary Scale for Nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Optometrists, Physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists and radiographers.

The release identified those to be recruited as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical lab scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers and other categories of healthcare workers.

It informed that approval has also been given to the release of funds to cover the emolument of the 771 new staff to be recruited into the healthcare workforce and all with take effect from May 1st, 2025.

Additionally, the release disclosed that the Governor 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.

In this category are “laparoscopic 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, the release noted.

All above approvals will take effect from May 1st 2025.