Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has approved a pay increase for doctors working in Delta State, raising their monthly salary by ₦200,000 and introducing a ₦100,000 tax-free allowance for house officers.
The development was made known by the Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, during a media briefing in Asaba.
He explained that the new structure will move the salary of entry-level doctors from ₦370,000 to ₦570,000, while house officers will now earn above ₦350,000 instead of the previous amount, slightly above ₦250,000.
The extra allowance is part of what the government calls the MORE Special Allowance.
The decision comes at a time when the state is trying to recruit over 700 health workers but has not seen enough doctors turn up, even though more than 6,000 people applied.
The government said the new pay package will make the jobs more attractive and encourage qualified doctors to join the state’s health system.
Onojaeme said the aim of the increase is to improve the quality of healthcare services and ensure hospitals have enough staff to attend to patients.
He also stated that the recruitment process will remain fair and based on merit, with no room for payments or favouritism.
He said that the state government is seeking to solve the shortage of medical workers while also improving their welfare and working conditions across public health institutions in Delta State.
