The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commended Kogi state government for the implementation of the 2014 revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and proper placement of doctors in the State Specialist Hospital (KSSH), Lokoja, and the entire state owned hospitals at large.
The commendation was made in a statement jointly signed by the leadership of the North Central Caucus of NARD, the Leader, Dr. Abdulquadri Idrisu; and the Deputy Leader Dr. Emmanuel Bola Jonah Kelvin, on Monday in Lokoja.
According to the statement, in the last one year, NARD had reached out to the government on the need to implement the CONMESS, both directly and from Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), KSSH Lokoja, ably led by its immediate Past President, Dr. Emmanuel Bola Jonah Kelvin.
They also commended the government on the giant strides on infrastructural development in the health sector so far, and urged the government to sustain the effort.
The association noted that eventhough NARD were not yet where they wanted to be in Kogi State, they were glad that a huge step had been taken, and expressed their gratitude to the Kogi State Government.
“No doubt a major step in solving brain drain in Kogi State has been achieved, we look forward to consolidating these gains, with sustained investment in the health sector.
“The implementation of the new minimum wage and promotions are still outstanding. We are hopeful and expectant that in the near future this will also be the thing of the past,” NARD said.
The association expressed their unbridled appreciation to Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for the gesture, assuring their total commitment to saving the lives of the people of the state.
The association also thanked the State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Saka Haruna Audu; the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Idris Asiru; the State Auditor General, Mr. Okala; and the State’s Accountant General, for their unalloyed support.
They further extended their appreciation to the immediate past and present NMA-KOGI Chairmen; Dr Kabir Zubair and Dr Oyiguh Omakoji respectively along side their SOC.
In the same vein, the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioner of Nigeria (NAGGMDP), Kogi State chapter, has commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for the implementation of the 2014 revised CONMESS for doctors in the state’s civil service.
The commendation was given in a statement jointly signed by NAGGMDP Chairman, Dr Okungbowa Osaretin Kelvin, and Secretary, Dr Ugoh Stanley Nkemakolam, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Lokoja.
”We thank His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his recent kind gesture towards us through the implementation of the 2014 revised CONMESS, which became effective January 2021.
”Sir, this has put to an end of our seven years struggle and will stop the ongoing brain drain of medical doctors from the state civil service as well as ameliorate our economic challenges.
”It is our pleasure to inform you that your name has been written in gold in the history of our struggle regarding the 2014 revised CONMESS,.
”We will forever remember you and render our overwhelming supports and services whenever and wherever we have the opportunity to do so,” the statement reads.
In a related development, the Ebira Doctor’s Forum (EDF) has commended Governor Bello for the giant strides he had made so far in the state’s health sector.
Dr Kabiru Zubair, the EDF newly elected President, gave the commendation in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lokoja.
According to Zubair, EDF is an umbrella body of doctors of Ebira extraction who’s main aim is to promote quality healthcare delivery in Ebira land.
“The recently appointed executive council of the forum at her inaugural meeting held on Sunday, 31st January 2021 at Lugard Beach, x-rayed many achievements of the new direction government ably led by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi state in the health sector.
“Of note, is the recent implementation of 2014 revised CONMESS. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter, has not only confirmed it, but a number of our members have actually palpated the new increment in their salaries.
“The EDF is extremely excited over this recent development. This improvement in salary will not only retain the current skilled man power in the state health sector, but will attract more doctors to the state,” Zubair said.
He added that the body commended the government for the massive ongoing construction of Central Reference Hospital at the Zonal Hospital, Okene, saying the giant step would lip frog healthcare delivery in Kogi State to an ultramodern one.
”Similarly, the upgrading of General Hospital, Adogo is a step in the right direction. It is our believe that with these bold, land mark steps taken to improve the health sector, you are set to move to greater height.
”The EDF is extremely proud of your achievement as the first Anebira that will occupy that exalted office of the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Kogi State and you have left an indelible mark in the sand of time.
”History will remember you for the giant stride you made to transform the kogi state health sector to a 21st century quality care”, he said.
Zubair assured the State Government of the readiness of the EDF to collaborate to improving health care delivery in the state especially in the area of provision of highly skilled man power.
