In a groundbreaking move to strengthen the healthcare system in Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, the Governor of Abia State, has approved a new salary structure for all health workers in the state and the recruitment of 771 new healthcare professionals.

This decisive action, announced on April 29, 2025, marks a historic milestone in Governor Otti’s ongoing commitment to revitalizing the healthcare sector and improving the welfare of health professionals across the state.

Key Approvals Include:

1. Introduction of the Abia State Health Workers Salary Scale (ASHWOSS):
   Effective from May 1, 2025, all healthcare workers in Abia State will transition to the newly approved ASHWOSS, a structure aligned with the Federal Government’s Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for other health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, optometrists, medical laboratory scientists, and radiographers.
2. Recruitment of 771 Healthcare Workers:
   Following a comprehensive needs assessment across health facilities and agencies under the Ministry of Health, the Governor has approved the recruitment of 771 new staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, radiographers, physiotherapists, and other essential healthcare professionals.
3. Release of Funds for Staff Emoluments:
   Governor Otti has authorized the immediate release of funds to cover the salaries and emoluments of the newly recruited healthcare personnel.
4. Special Emolument Packages for Specialists:
   To attract and retain top-tier specialists in critical medical fields, His Excellency has directed the Ministry of Health to negotiate special remuneration packages for consultants and experts in areas such as laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, anesthesia and intensive care, organ transplant and robotic surgery, cardiac and neurosurgery, neonatology, interventional radiology, cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, and plastic surgery. These negotiations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The reforms are expected to significantly improve the quality of care across all levels of health service delivery, enhance staff morale, and reduce the outflow of critical health talent from the state.

Signed:
Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche
Honourable Commissioner for Health
Abia State
April 30, 2025