By Atoyebi Nike
17th May 2025
Bauchi State Government has approved a comprehensive new salary structure and welfare package for doctors and other healthcare workers across the state. This development was announced by the Head of Service, Mohammed Umar, following the State Executive Council Meeting held on Friday. Umar said the decision is aimed at stemming the tide of medical professionals leaving the state due to inadequate remuneration and poor working conditions.
According to Umar, Governor Bala Mohammed was particularly concerned about the increasing exodus of doctors and frontline health workers—such as nurses and midwives—which has led to serious manpower constraints in the state’s healthcare sector. A committee set up by the government to investigate the issue attributed the trend to insufficient welfare incentives.
“Council has approved the implementation of a comprehensive salary structure in the state, including the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (COHESS) for health workers,” Umar said.
The approved welfare package will also include housing and car loans, rural posting allowances, enhanced security for healthcare institutions, improved medical equipment, and perimeter fencing for health facilities. Additionally, the state will extend support to youth corps members working in health centres and resolve lingering issues related to promotions, career advancement, and pre-service training for medical personnel.
Umar added that a dedicated implementation committee will be constituted to oversee the roll-out of the new remuneration system.
Speaking on the initiative, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Dambam, commended Governor Bala Mohammed for prioritizing the health sector. He noted that since declaring a state of emergency in the health sector, the administration has removed bureaucratic bottlenecks, convened the first health summit in northern Nigeria, and implemented the “My Bauchi” project plan, which provides a developmental blueprint for the sector.
Dr. Dambam highlighted that Bauchi has consistently allocated 15% of its budget to health, in line with international standards, and has renovated healthcare facilities statewide. He also confirmed that the state has lifted the embargo on the recruitment of health workers and reinstated the pre-service training scheme that had been suspended by previous administrations.
“With this comprehensive package, we are now on par with our counterparts in federal service. We are confident that this will greatly improve the sector’s capacity by attracting and retaining qualified health professionals,” Dr. Dambam stated.
The move is expected to significantly enhance healthcare delivery across the state, especially in rural and underserved communities.
