In a decisive move to enhance healthcare delivery in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has ordered the immediate harmonisation of the 2023 and 2025 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical personnel at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.
The directive was issued on Thursday during a working visit by the ABSUTH Board and Management, led by Board Chairman Dr Ezinne Kalu, who presented a progress report titled “Stabilising Today: Building the Teaching Hospital Abia Deserves.”
Governor Otti expressed surprise that the 2023 CONMESS structure, which he had previously approved, was not fully implemented before the 2025 review. He emphasised that full implementation would have placed Abia health workers on a better salary scale than their federal counterparts.
“When the request came, my understanding was that it was going to be better than the Federal,” Otti stated. “Before I approved it, I asked about the total cost of employment to cross-check with my budget. I found we could accommodate it, and I approved it. Going back to what you have is strange; let us make this job easier for ourselves.”
The governor directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu, and ABSUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof Nneka Okoronkwo, to collaboratively harmonise both CONMESS structures and submit recommendations for appropriate action.
Key Highlights of the Governor’s Directives:
*Harmonisation of 2023 and 2025 CONMESS salary structures
*Payment of outstanding salaries owed to interns
*Settlement of salary arrears for three ABSUTH workers owed for two years
*Payment of MDCAN shortfall following salary centralisation
*Approval for staff due for promotion.
Governor Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming ABSUTH into a world-class tertiary healthcare institution, noting that 15% of the state’s annual budget is consistently allocated to healthcare.
“The huge investment my administration is making in the health sector is driven by my desire to provide affordable and quality healthcare to Abians, not to make profit,” he affirmed.
The governor also disclosed that ABSUTH facilities previously concessioned to private entities by the previous administration had been successfully recovered and returned to the Teaching Hospital’s management.
