Calabar, Nigeria — Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has approved a 100 percent salary increase for doctors working in the state’s healthcare system as part of a comprehensive reform package aimed at improving healthcare delivery and addressing workforce shortages.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, who disclosed that the governor had also approved a more than 100 percent increase in fiscal allocation to the health sector, alongside the recruitment of 2,000 additional healthcare workers across the state.
According to Ayuk, the measures form part of the administration’s broader commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, improving staff welfare, and ensuring residents have access to quality medical services.
He explained that the salary increase is designed to boost morale among doctors, improve retention rates, and discourage the migration of healthcare professionals to other states and countries in search of better opportunities.
“The governor has demonstrated a strong commitment to the health sector through these landmark approvals. Beyond increasing doctors’ salaries by 100 percent, he has also approved enhanced welfare packages for other healthcare workers and authorized the recruitment of additional personnel to address manpower gaps,” Ayuk said.
The commissioner further revealed that the state government has lifted restrictions on employment within the health sector to facilitate the recruitment process and ensure adequate staffing levels in public health institutions.
In addition to improving workers’ welfare, the administration has significantly increased funding for healthcare infrastructure. Several hospitals and health facilities across the state are expected to benefit from ongoing renovation and upgrade projects.
Among the facilities earmarked for intervention are General Hospital Ukem, Cottage Hospital Oban, and the long-abandoned General Hospital project in Akpabuyo, where civil works are expected to commence following the release of government funds.
The state government noted that the latest reforms build on previous achievements, including the revitalization of more than 100 primary healthcare centres across Cross River State over the past two years.
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