The Association of Residents Doctors (ARD) in Kogi State has expressed their dissatisfaction over the non-implementation of the approved new salary structure, CONMESS 2024.
The doctors, after an emergency meeting of the association on Friday in Lokoja, also expressed their displeasure over the non-payment of arrears of new minimum wages for October 2024 as promised by the Government.
The ARD President of Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, Dr Ameh Friday, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the doctors shortly after the meeting, appealed to Gov. Ahmed Ododo to wade in and intervene.
According to him, 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,
“Members who attended in their numbers, aired their grievances for being excluded from the minimum wage implementation in October, and appealed to the Governor to wade in.
“Recall that in October 2024, the government graciously approved the new salary structure CONMESS 2024 for doctors working in the state.
“This was to motivate the already impoverished doctors and to serve as halting mechanism to the norms that exist where doctors working in the state are always on transition to leave the service due to poor remuneration.
“The approval which was conveyed by the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams, and was widely circulated and published on media brought joy to doctors in the state.
“In appreciation of the information, various associations of doctors in Kogi expressed their gratitude to the chief servant of the state; H.E Governor Ahmed Ododo and prayed for the success of his administration,” Ameh said.
He, however noted that the implementation which was meant to take effect in October was later slated for November and with a promise that, the accrued arrears of October would be paid alongside November salary.
He added: “Members were however thrown into disarray when November salary was paid few days ago without the October arrears of new minimum wages and implementation of the new salary structure, CONMESS 2024.
“It’s on record that, among all health workers working with Kogi State Government, only Medical Doctors are still on the old salary structure of CONMESS 2014 whereas others have been on CONHESS 2024.
“The association uses this medium to call on the good office of the Governor, His Excellency, Ahmed Ododo CON, to wade into the situation and extend his goodwill to the doctors working with the State Civil Service.
“We are appealing to the governor to direct the relevant government agencies to ensure the full implementation of what was rightly approved for the continuous harmony and peace in the health sector.
“The association firmly believe in the capacity of the welfare-friendly governor to act in the best interest of the state doctors to prevent any disruption of service by the already ill motivated doctors,” Ameh said.
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