The Edo State Government on Wednesday said doctors and other health workers in the state operate under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which aligns with the federal government’s compensation for medical professionals.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin and jointly signed by President Association of Resident Doctors Under Edo State Government Employment, Dr Uaboi Ovbiagele, and Dr Peter Evbuomwan, Secretary General
Association of Resident Doctors Under Edo State Government Employment.
The government denied the insinuation in certain quarters that salaries for doctors and other health workers in the state have not been increased, suggesting a disregard for the genuine needs of the state’s workforce.
The statement noted that salaries for doctors and all health workers under the Edo state government employment have been reviewed to match what is received in federal facilities.
The government also urged the sponsors of the fake news to avoid politicizing the issue or using doctors and other health professionals as leverage in political discussions, saying, “We find this approach deeply concerning and believe that the welfare of healthcare workers should not be subjected to political manipulation.”
The statement reads in part, “
Our attention has been drawn to a recent publication alleging that salaries for doctors and other health workers in the state have not been increased, suggesting a disregard for the genuine needs of the state’s workforce.
“We find this article to be misleading and wish to clarify that doctors under the state government do not follow the standard salary structure used by other civil servants. Instead, we operate under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which aligns with the federal government’s compensation for medical professionals. Additionally, salaries for doctors and all health workers under the Edo state government employment have been reviewed to match what is received in federal facilities.
“While we acknowledge the need for a broader review of salaries across Nigeria, we prefer to address such matters through the appropriate channels. It is also essential to avoid politicizing the issue or using doctors and other health professionals as leverage in political discussions. We find this approach deeply concerning and believe that the welfare of healthcare workers should not be subjected to political manipulation.”