The Abia State Government (ABSG) has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Local Government health workers, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced on Monday at Government House, Umuahia.
According to The Nation, Kanu briefed journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, describing the approval as part of ongoing reforms in the state civil service.
“The state government continues to prioritise workers’ welfare and conditions of service of its workforce. This commendable move makes Abia State one of the few states in the country that pays the federal government Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS,” he said.
Prince Kanu also highlighted the functionalisation of the second batch of 52 renovated and equipped Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state, bringing the total number of operational PHCs to 102. He added that the remaining 98 PHCs will be fully renovated and equipped before the end of the year.
“In the same vein, 50 or more out of the 79 World Bank Impact PHCs will be fully renovated and equipped before year’s end. Similarly, by the end of the year, it is hoped that a total of 250 PHCs or more will have been fully renovated and equipped for use by Abians in the state,” he said.
The Commissioner revealed that the state government is partnering with top hospitals in Sweden and other global health institutions on a series of medical outreach programmes. He said, “Some of the outreach programmes are as follows. The first is the one involving the Ministry and ProHealth International. That medical outreach will commence on the 16th of this month and end on the 22nd of the month.
“The second outreach involves Abia Diaspora Medical Outreach Group and this will hold between the 12th and 19th of December 2025. The third one is the AMPA Abia Medical Outreach and this will hold in April 2026. The last but not the least is the one involving Abia State and the Swedish Global Health Outreach.”
He also disclosed that the recruitment portal for health workers has been reopened, with vacancies for ophthalmologists, medical officers, dental officers, and part-time and full-time consultants. Work is ongoing on three specialist hospitals in the state, and recent reviews have ensured the facilities are being upgraded to world-class standards.
Governor Alex Otti has also directed that the solar power project at SDG Hospital in Ugwunagbo be made operational this week, a move that will guarantee 24/7 electricity for both staff and patients, Kanu said.
The Commissioner noted that the Light Up Abia initiative is progressing steadily, with the installation of a 300 kVA-0.35 kVA transformer substation underway. Surveys for the Ohafia routing of a 33 kVA line from Ihechiowa to Asaga, covering 27.69 km, are also ongoing.
Prince Kanu assured that the administration will not change the terms of any land acquired for projects, stressing that all land will be used solely for the purpose for which it was obtained.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the government first needed to confirm the exact number of health workers in the LGAs before approving the CONHESS. He added that the scheme has removed disparities among health care workers, noting, “If this is anything to boost the morale of workers, His Excellency has done it.”
On the ongoing recruitment of health workers, Prof. Uche stated that about 500 nurses are currently undergoing documentation after being recruited through the transparent process implemented by the state government.
