By Gbenga Ariyibi
ADO-EKITI—Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, and  Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure, CONHESS, for medical and health workers in the state.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, Mr Mojeed Jamiu yesterday, the governor decided to approve the new salary regime for the doctors due to the  commitment and high premium the government has for the health programme in the state.

According to him, the  governor’s approval was conveyed through a  circular  signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Training, Office of the Governor, Mr. Kunle Abegunde.

He noted  that the salary regime took  effect from 1st October, 2010.

According to the circular, the newly approved package for the medical and health Workers in Ondo State was adopted for workers in all government health institutions, while the new package would also be applicable for workers at the University Teaching Hospital with  due cognisance to the institution’s autonomy as an extension of the University of Ado Ekiti.

The agitation for the payment of the CONMESS/CONHESS by the Ekiti State Health workers dated back to January, 2010 when the Federal Government approved the salary structure and culminated in a 9-week industrial action by doctors in the University of Ado Ekiti Teaching Hospital from 25th July.

However with the approval of the new salary structure by Governor Fayemi, Ekiti state became the second state in the entire South-West Nigeria to implement the  salary.