By Edem Ekpo
In a renewed effort to stem the tide of brain drain and improve healthcare delivery in Cross River State, Governor Bassey Otu has announced plans to extend the retirement age of medical doctors from 60 to 65 years.
The Governor made this known while receiving national officers of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) who are in Calabar for the association’s July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
According to him, the proposed adjustment is part of a broader, long-term strategy to retain experienced clinicians, enhance institutional memory, and promote mentorship across the health workforce.
“In view of the realities we face—especially the shortage of skilled hands—we are seriously considering reviewing the retirement age for doctors from 60 to 65 years,” Governor Otu said. “This will help us preserve valuable expertise and ensure proper knowledge transfer to younger professionals.”
Governor Otu stressed that fixing the health sector goes beyond infrastructure or policy shifts, noting that professional ethics and discipline among practitioners were equally vital to rebuilding public trust and restoring the prestige of the profession.
“The medical profession demands both ethical and professional discipline,” he said. “When these are upheld, they will inspire trust in the system and reduce the exodus of our best minds abroad.”
The Governor highlighted the state’s reform journey so far, pointing to the strengthening of primary healthcare services as the foundation of a larger plan that will also revamp secondary and tertiary care institutions.
“We began with primary health care because that’s where most of our people access services,” he said. “However, we’re equally focused on improving other levels of care. The goal is a resilient, integrated health system from the ground up.”
In terms of welfare, Governor Otu reaffirmed his administration’s phased approach to implementing an improved salary structure, disclosing that 70% of the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) had already been approved for doctors in the state.
“We are committed to building a health system that works—but we also face competing development needs across education, infrastructure, and agriculture. We appeal for dialogue and understanding as we balance these priorities,” he added.
The Governor thanked the medical community for their sacrifices and encouraged continued partnership to achieve lasting reforms, while assuring that ongoing investments would translate into better service conditions over time.
Responding on behalf of the NARD President, Dr. Osundare Tope, Vice President I of the association, Dr. Abdulrauf Tajudeen, commended the state government’s support and called for full implementation of CONMESS to discourage internal migration and retain talent within the state.
“Achieving pay parity with federal structures will go a long way in stemming the drift of doctors and other professionals to better-paying institutions,” Tajudeen noted.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Emmanuel Ogar, expressed appreciation for the Governor’s support, including sponsorship of the ongoing NARD NEC meeting in Calabar.
He described the event as a strategic opportunity to position the state for leadership roles in the forthcoming NARD elections and formally invited Governor Otu to attend as Special Guest of Honour.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Ezoke Epoke, praised the administration’s resolve to clear inherited salary arrears, support medical outreach programs, and push forward legislation to establish a State Hospital Management Board.
“Establishing the board is a major step in regulating staffing, training, and service quality across our secondary health institutions,” Dr. Epoke noted.
As the NEC meeting continues in Calabar, health sector stakeholders remain hopeful that these recent moves by the Otu-led government will mark a turning point in restoring confidence and capacity in Cross River’s public health system.