The Abia State Government has approved the full implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers across the 17 local government areas of the state. The move, announced on Monday in Umuahia, is part of efforts to enhance the welfare and working conditions of healthcare personnel within the local government system.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting. He said the approval formed part of Governor Alex Otti’s ongoing civil service reforms aimed at strengthening the public sector and motivating the workforce.
Mr. Kanu noted that with this decision, Abia has joined the select group of states implementing the Federal Government’s CONHESS for local government health workers. “As part of the ongoing reforms in the state’s civil service, the government continues to prioritise workers’ welfare and conditions of service. To this end, the State Executive Council has approved the CONHESS Salary Scale for local government health workers in the state,” he stated.
The Commissioner further announced that Governor Otti had directed the immediate activation of the solar power project at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Hospital in Ugwunagbo to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. “With this directive, hospital staff and patients alike will now enjoy 24-hour power supply,” he said.
Mr. Kanu also revealed that the state government had reopened its recruitment portal for health workers, which was temporarily closed in August. “Currently, vacancies exist for ophthalmologists, medical officers, dental officers, as well as part-time and full-time consultants,” he explained, urging qualified candidates to apply through the state’s official website.
According to him, the series of reforms and initiatives in the health sector underscore the Otti administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring better working conditions for medical professionals across the state.
