Governor Zulum Raises The Salaries Of Health Workers In Borno State

 

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum of Borno State has increased the salaries of medical doctors in the seven councils of the state by 30 per cent. According to him, the gesture will encourage healthcare services in the seven insurgency affected local councils of the state.

When announcing the pay rise, in Monguno, he explained that: “Beside the doctors, other health workers such as nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians and pharmacists in the seven councils are to also benefit with a 20 per cent pay rise.”

The pay rise, he said, was necessary to further motivate doctors and other health workers to deliver quality and affordable healthcare to the people of Monguno, Ngala, Dikwa, Kukawa, Kala/Balge, Bama and Abadam, on the shores of Lake Chad. The 13-year terrorism destroyed the councils, with Bama the most hit. After being conducted round Monguno General Hospital by the principal medical officer, Dr. Solomon Thiza, the governor directed the construction of additional staff quarters, a borehole and the installation of solar-powered electricity for effective service delivery.

In January, Governor Zulum had raised the salaries of doctors in the state to be at par with the Federal Government salary payment structure. The governor had also directed the release of five vehicles to support fish traders operating on the Lake Chad. The support was to stimulate fishing and the distribution of fish products to markets in the North East. Disbursing fishing grants at the weekend, in Monguno, he disclosed: “Economic activities were disrupted in the state with Boko Haram attacks on military posts and communities on shores of Lake Chad.”

He pointed out that this led to the massive displacement of 2.7 million people from their homes. Lamenting the incessant attacks, he said: “Prior to terrorism, dry fish was commercially supplied to other parts of the country, as well as Niger, Chad and Cameroon.” He warned fish traders against conducting any business that can support funding of terrorism.

“There should be no illicit transaction that can jeopardise the security of our people.”

Governor Zulum, therefore, urged the traders to cooperate with the military and other security agencies by providing information on suspicious persons and activities. The governor was in Monguno to supervise the disbursement of N275 million to 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups of people.