Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has directed the immediate harmonisation of the 2023 and 2025 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for workers at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.
The directive came on Thursday during the presentation of a report by the hospital’s Board and Management, led by Chairperson Dr Ezinne Kalu, at the Governor’s Office in Umuahia.
Governor Otti reiterated that improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare personnel remains central to his administration’s strategy for revitalising the state’s health sector.
“The substantial investment we are channeling into healthcare—including the consistent allocation of 15 per cent of the state’s annual budget—is driven by a commitment to affordable, quality care for Abians, not by profit motives,” he stated.
The governor further disclosed that his administration is repositioning ABSUTH as a world-class tertiary institution, noting that several lost accreditations had been restored since he assumed office. He also confirmed that facilities previously concessioned to private operators had been recovered and returned to the teaching hospital.
Addressing the salary issue, Otti expressed surprise that the 2023 CONMESS scale, which he had previously approved, was not fully implemented before the 2025 review was introduced.
“When the latest request came, I understood it would supersede the federal scale. Before approval, I queried the total employment cost to cross-check against our budget. Upon review, I found it feasible and gave my assent,” he explained.
He added: “Retrogressing to what you have is untenable. Let us simplify this process.”
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 harmonise both salary structures and submit their recommendations for implementation.
Earlier, Board Chairperson Dr Ezinne Kalu presented the board’s report, while Prof Okoronkwo expressed gratitude for the governor’s interventions, which she said had alleviated salary arrears, expedited promotion approvals, and resolved several staff-related challenges.