Governor Ayade approves 100% CONMESS for doctors in Cross River
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has approved the payment of 100 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to all medical doctors in the State.
The governor’s wife, Dr. Lynda Ayade stated this on Thursday when she received officials of the State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on a thank you visit to her office.
She said that the gesture would be extended to all other medical personnel to ensure optimal performance in the state’s health sector.
According to her, she has taken note of happenings in the health sector in the state even as a medical student and enjoined doctors and other medical staff to work hard to reciprocate the gesture of the State government.
“Cross River State and indeed Nigeria will be a better place if everybody played their parts, ” she said.
Speaking, the State chairman of NMA, Dr. Innocent Abang said they were in the First Lady’s office to show appreciation for the role she played in the approval of the CONMESS.
“We also want you to help us convey our appreciation to the governor. Please, tell him that we are highly grateful, ” Abang said.
According to him, the gesture was highly appreciated by NMA, adding that the action would stop the migration of doctors in the stste for greener pastures.
“We are highly elated because this is what we have been pursuing since 11 years ago.
“Before now, doctors in Cross River have been on 70 per cent CONMESS, and we are really happy over this latest development, ” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Beta Edu described the approval of CONMESS for doctors in the state as a breakthrough in the quest for improved health care delivery in the state.
She lamented that before now doctors were leaving the state in droves on regular basis.
“Even as we speak, one cannot say this is the number of doctors in Cross River State because the ones you employed last week by this week, they are gone either abroad or to the Teaching Hospital.
“But with this approval the state is set to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), ” she said.
The Commissioner said it was not an easy task before the approval was given and assured other medical health workers of equal treatment.