The Abia State Government targets to recruit about 771 health workers as it okays a new salary scale with immediate effect beginning from May 1.
The recruitment exercise will span various healthcare departments, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical lab scientists, and other categories of healthcare workers.
The new salary scale known as the Abia State Health Workers Salary Scale (ASHWOSS) was revealed on Wednesday in a document shared and signed by the state Health Commissioner, Prof. Ogbonnaya Uche, in Umuahia.
The health commissioner said the state salary structure is in line with the federal salary structure for health workers, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, among others.
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“This means that Abia Health workers, with effect from May 1st 2025, will begin to enjoy the same pay as their federal government counterparts.
“Abia will also recruit 771 new health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical lab scientists, physiotherapists , radiographers, and other categories of healthcare workers,” Prof. Uche stated.
It added that the 771 new health workers to be recruited stem from the assessment carried out across health facilities and agencies of the Ministry of Health.
Also, the state health commissioner said funds have been released for the emolument of the 771 new staff to be employed.
According to Prof Uche, instructions have been given to the ministry to develop a special pay package to attract and retain key health professionals.
Uche added that the state needed experts skilled in areas such as laparoscopic surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, transplant and robotic surgery, cardiac and brain surgery, and newborn care.
“Other areas requiring specialists include interventional (radiology, neurology, cardiology and nephrology), ophthalmology, oncology, orthopaedics and plastic surgery on a case-by-case basis, as may be applicable.”
