Kebbi state governor, Comrade, Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, says, his administration will correct the disparity in the remunerations of medical doctors to be at par with their colleagues in other parts of the country aimed at ending brain drain of medical professionals from the State.
The governor has also increased the allowances of medical students from thirty thousand to fifty thousand naira monthly
Governor Nasir Idris was responding to the request by the Commissioner for Health, Comrade Yunusa Isma’il and the state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Murtala Dandare, who solicited for a permanent solution to the monumental disparity of entry level of medical doctors into the Kebbi state civil service.
They complained that such low remunerations has led to the exodus of medical doctors to federal employment and elsewhere paying higher salaries.
Speaking at a dinner party he organised for thirteen graduate medical doctors of kebbi state origin from Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Sunday night, Governor Nasir Idris, affirmed commitment to remedy the situation immediately.
He informed the newly graduated medical doctors of his intention to absorb them into the workforce after the completion of their house intern and NYSC, and instantaneous, increased the allowances of medical students from thirty thousand to fifty thousand naira monthly.
Comrade Nasir Idris made it clear that his administration would not play with the health of the populace, saying that the government would embark on the rehabilitation of hospitals and provision of necessary medical equipment to all the hospitals.
“I will address all areas making doctors to run away. I will look into the issue of remunerations for doctors as required. I will do everything humanly possible to make them happy. I will not allow our hospitals to decay. I will provide the necessary structures and equipment ‘, he averred.
Comrade Nasir Idris acknowledged that hospitals of the state government were understaffed, promising to reverse the situation.
The governor commended the newly graduated medical doctors among whom are two females, for achieving incredible feat in medicine, saying as young men and women, he was aware that they have signed bond to stay and serve the state diligently and professionally in their field of endeavor.
The Commissioner for Health, Comrade Yunusa Isma’il informed the Kebbi State Chief Executive that, at present, 169 students, indigenes of Kebbi state were in medical colleges in various universities while 99 were undergraduates in the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, medical college.
He also appealed to the governor to address the disparity in renumeration of medical doctors to be the same with that of federal government.
One of the celebrant, Dr Aminu Sani Zagga who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, expressed gratitude to Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu for the honor and sponsorship by the Kebbi State Government.
‘ I want to most sincerely appreciate the governor for his kind gesture to us. This is an important milestone in our lives that we will never forget.
‘ I thank the governor for making our dream come true ‘,he averred.
He commended the governor for the rapid infrastructural development the state is going through in all the sectors particularly in Health, Education, Agriculture and Youth development under Kauran Gwandu’s led administration.
