Akwa Ibom Medical Workers to Earn Highest Salary in Nigeria from November
By Ekemini Simon
The Government of Akwa Ibom State has approved a salary structure for medical workers, effective November 1, 2025.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel, the new salary structure will make health workers in the State emerge the highest paid in Nigeria.
This was made know when the House of Representatives Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Hon. Dr. Amos Magaji, Friday, October 17, embarked on an oversight visit to Akwa Ibom State to appraise the implementation and performance of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the state.
The Commissioner said the review, approved by Governor Umo Eno at the recent State Executive Council meeting, covers both the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). He said Doctors on levels 14 and 15 will earn more than Permanent Secretaries, while those on level 15 and above will earn more than Commissioners.
“This is the largest single review in terms of percentage in the history of this country,” Dr. Emmanuel said. The Commissioner said the circular detailing the review is expected before the end of the month, and Governor Eno has directed that the new incentive must start on November 1.
The Commissioner said the salary review is part of the State’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery and motivate health workers.
He noted that Akwa Ibom State has emerged as the fastest growing state in health insurance, and the government is working to expand access to healthcare services.
Emmanuel added that the State government has also initiated conversations with Local Government areas to contribute to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, starting January 2026 so as to strengthen primary healthcare services and improve healthcare outcomes in the State.
Earlier, the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Amos Magaji, said that the purpose of the visit was not to identify faults but to fulfill their responsibilities by evaluating the implementation and performance of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the State.
“We are here to see what Akwa Ibom State is doing in primary healthcare, to know how much they have benefited from counterpart funds, and to assess how the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund is faring in the State. We may find things that you are doing exceptionally well and we invite others to learn from you. We may also show you what we find in other places which you can learn from.
“I sincerely appreciate the state Governor for the state-of-the-art Health Centre on Barracks road; the facility is a massive one. I propose that similar facilities be constructed in other local governments to ensure rural dwellers have access to quality primary health care,” he stated.
The Chairman of the Committee said that they had toured several healthcare facilities especially within South-South States in the last few days to inspect firsthand how the fund is being utilized to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
Also speaking, the Member Representing Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ime Okon, who is also a member of the Committee, commended the Governor for gis strides in the Health Sector saying that with the experience and expertise of the State Commissioner for Health, the administration will achieve more in the health sector.
Other members of the committee commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its dedication to strengthening healthcare delivery while making key recommendations to enhance the utilisation of available resources, particularly in expanding access through the state’s health insurance scheme and adequate manpower.
The Committee received briefing from the Executive Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), on the utilisation of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund across PHCs while Dr. Igbemi Igbemi, Permanent Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA), highlighted the state’s strides toward achieving universal health coverage and strategies designed to expand access to healthcare services through insurance.