‘To bridge pay gap’ — Kebbi governor promises to increase allowances of health workers

Nasir Idris, governor of Kebbi, says he will work to increase allowances for medical personnel in the state.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Ahmed Idris, his spokesperson, the governor spoke at a dinner organised in honour of 13 indigenous medical doctors who graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

The governor promised to accord “more priority” to the health sector because of their important role in saving human lives.

He added that closing the gap between state and federal government medical staff allowances would encourage them to work for their people.

“I will do my best to increase doctors and other medical staff allowances, so that the gap in allowances between the state and the federal government is filled, to enable them stay at home and work for their people,” the statement reads.

“Now I am happy, you people have graduated and are ready to serve the state.

“This administration has also increased the scholarship allowance of medical students studying at various universities from N30,000 to N50,000 to support their academic activities.”

Idris promised to construct standard hospitals across the four emirates in the state, to boost accessibility of health facilities and reduce the suffering of citizens occasioned by different illnesses.

On his part, Alhassan Yauri, the state commissioner for health, thanked the governor for organising the reception for the graduating medical doctors, describing it as the first of its kind in the state’s history.

He said improving the health workers’ allowance was the only way to prevent them from moving to other organisations.