Abia Government To Recruit More Medical Personnel As State Moves To Strengthen Health Sector
The Abia State Government says 33 additional medical consultants will soon be employed into the state’s health sector following their successful interviews with officials of the Ministry of Health and the Civil Service Commission.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti, at Government House, Umuahia.
Prince Kanu added that the recruitment portal for health personnel remains open for Opthamologists, Dental Officers, Medical Officers, as well as contract and full-time consultants, as part of government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
He explained that the move aligns with the Otti administration’s commitment to ensuring quality health services and addressing manpower gaps in public health institutions.
Transitioning to other developments, the Commissioner announced that the proposed Abia Start-up Bill, sponsored by the State Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations, has been passed into law by the State House of Assembly.
According to him, the Bill is in line with Governor Otti’s manifesto promise to establish a thriving digital economy that will drive innovation and entrepreneurship across multiple sectors of the state’s economy.
“With the passage of the Bill, the next important step will be for the Governor to grant his assent by signing it into law. Once that is done, the Abia State Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Board will be established, followed by the launch of the Abia Startup Portal,” Prince Kanu stated.
He said the new law would create a more attractive and enabling environment for start-ups to thrive, adding that the Abia Technology and Innovation Summit has been scheduled to hold from December 10th to 12th, 2025, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
The summit, he explained, will feature activities around the start-up law and a Start-up Innovation Challenge, which will take place at the new UNDP UNIPOD facility at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
In addition, Prince Kanu announced that the state will host the 44th National Council of Civil Service Commissions Conference from November 30th to December 5th, 2025, with over 600 participants expected to attend. He described this as further proof of the growing national attention on Abia following the administration’s transformational reforms in the last 29 months.
On environmental sustainability, the Commissioner revealed that Governor Otti has approved for the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to oversee the construction and deployment of 100 additional waste bin buckets across the state.
“The construction of the bin buckets is being handled by the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba. This initiative will enhance the state’s waste management system and promote a cleaner environment,” he added.
Prince Kanu also stated that the Ministry of Works currently has direct labour projects in 48 locations across the state, with five recently completed and five new ones added to the ministry’s maintenance schedule.
Clarifying recent reports on increased NYSC allowances, the Commissioner explained that the Governor’s approval raised corps members’ allowances from ₦4,000 to ₦20,000 across the board, while those serving in state-owned establishments will earn ₦30,000.
Furthermore, corps members serving as medical personnel in state-owned health facilities or as teachers in public schools will receive an additional ₦30,000, bringing their total monthly allowance to ₦50,000.
He said the state government is setting up a monitoring mechanism to ensure full implementation of the new directive.
Also present at the briefing were the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovations, Mr. David Kalu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.
