November 21, (THEWILL) – Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved a salary increase for medical doctors under the state civil service, aligning their pay with their counterparts at the federal level.
Zulum made the announcement on Wednesday during the 65th National Council on Health meeting, held in Maiduguri under the theme, “Accelerating Pathway to Universal Health Coverage Strategies for 2030.”
He directed the state’s Head of Service and Commissioner of Health to collaborate with the relevant federal agencies to eliminate disparities in salaries between state-employed and federally employed doctors.
“By December 1, medical doctors working with the Borno State government will receive the same salary as their federal counterparts. Link up with the relevant federal government agency and ensure no disparity in salaries,” Zulum ordered.
The pay increase is part of the governor’s broader commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
Zulum highlighted that Borno has adhered to the Abuja Declaration, which mandates states to allocate at least 15% of their annual budgets to healthcare.
“Our recent budget prioritises health infrastructure, increased access to maternal and child health services, and critical disease control programmes,” the governor stated.
He also disclosed that the state government had paid over ₦300 million in residency allowances for doctors in state hospitals and an additional ₦100 million to support Borno indigenes working in health facilities across the country.
Speaking at the event, Health Minister, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, and Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
Pate reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to upgrading health infrastructure and addressing maternal health challenges.
“The Tinubu administration prioritises revitalising the health sector through training, infrastructural upgrades, and universal health coverage strategies. We are also planning to establish a robust system for monitoring the quality of care in public hospitals,” Pate stated.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, lauded Borno’s resilience in maintaining primary healthcare services despite persistent challenges, calling it a remarkable achievement.
