Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has proposed a unified salary structure for medical doctors across Nigeria to curb the migration of healthcare professionals from state to federal health institutions.
Governor Radda made this call during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), led by President Professor Bala Muhammad Audu, at the Government House in Katsina. He emphasized that a standardized salary structure would help reduce the movement of doctors seeking higher pay in federal health institutions.
The governor encouraged doctors to prioritize their service to humanity over financial gain, stating, “Doctors should not look at the money but their services required to save humanity.” He also outlined his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare, which includes a foreign scholarship program for state indigenes from disadvantaged backgrounds to study medicine.
Additionally, Governor Radda revealed plans to establish dialysis and imaging centers at General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital and special schools across the three senatorial zones for underprivileged children. He directed the NMA state chairman to formally document the association’s requests for further government action.
NMA President, Professor Audu, praised the governor’s healthcare initiatives, particularly the establishment of dialysis and imaging centers, and called for an upward review of residency training allowances. He also requested land for the NMA’s housing project for medical doctors and the accreditation of the medical school at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University to reduce dependence on foreign medical training.
The NMA President concluded by offering condolences to Governor Radda on the recent passing of his mother, Hajiya Safara’u, and prayed for divine mercy.
