Ekiti State Government has approved the payment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to medical doctors in its employ.
This followed a meeting held between the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, and leaders of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the two sides, however, agreed that the effective date of the payment of the new salary structure would be in March, this year.
Speaking after the meeting, Governor Fayose said the financial constraints facing the state was responsible for the delay in endorsing the agreement.
"We don't take workers' welfare for granted and we have been doing our best in that regard. We would have started paying before now, if not for the financial constraints we are facing in the state. Though we ought to have done this before, it is better late than never. We have agreed to start paying it by March this year.
"By the grace of God, we will keep to our words. We hope too that our doctors and workers generally will put up more efforts and deliver better and qualitative services to our people," he said.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Ekiti State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Sunday Omoya, commended the state government for supporting the association.
"We have been on this issue for some months and we are happy that it has been resolved now. The CONMESS is being paid at the federal level and some states are also paying, we are happy that our amiable governor has approved it. We are happy that we are one of the states that have approved the payment.
"As an association we will always show gratitude to the governor for his assistance and support and we are promising that we will be more committed and improve on service delivery," he said.
