Otu Approves 100% Salary Increase for Doctors, 2,000 Health Workers in Cross River

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has approved a 100% salary increase for medical doctors in the state, marking a major attempt to tackle the brain drain in the local healthcare sector.

Alongside the pay rise, the state government has lifted a long-standing 13-year embargo on recruitment, hiring over 700 new health workers to strengthen service delivery across primary and specialist facilities.

The move was confirmed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, and highlighted as part of a broader effort to improve working conditions and retain medical personnel who often migrate due to poor pay.

Governor Otu’s administration has also focused on infrastructure, revamping over 100 primary healthcare centres and initiating renovations at General Hospital Ukem, Cottage Hospital Oban, and the long-abandoned General Hospital Akpabuyo.

If these reforms translate into better-equipped hospitals and shorter waiting times, Cross River could set a benchmark for other states struggling with healthcare workforce shortages.

Sources: Guardian Nigeria, The Sun, Pulse Nigeria, Cross River State News.