The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in Kogi State has raised major concerns regarding the non-implementation of the newly approved salary structure, CONMESS 2024.
This issue was highlighted during an emergency meeting held by the association in Lokoja, where the doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the state government's failure to fulfill its promise of paying the new minimum wage arrears for October 2024.
The ARD President, Dr. Ameh Friday, articulated the doctors' grievances, stating, "Doctors in the service of Kogi State Government have strongly expressed their gross dissatisfaction over the non-implementation of the approved new salary structure, CONMESS 2024."
The approval of this new salary structure was initially conveyed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams, and was intended to motivate doctors and curb the trend of them leaving due to poor remuneration.
Despite the government's approval in October, the implementation was postponed to November, with a promise that the October arrears would be paid alongside the November salary.
However, when the November salary was disbursed, it did not include the promised arrears or the new salary structure, leaving doctors on the outdated CONMESS 2014 plan. In contrast, other health workers have already transitioned to the CONHESS 2024 structure.
Dr. Friday appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo to intervene and ensure the full implementation of the approved salary structure. He emphasized the importance of this action for maintaining harmony and stability within the health sector, noting that "it is on record that, among all health workers working with the Kogi State Government, only medical doctors are still on the old salary structure."
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