By Tolulope Eniola
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has pledged to deepen investment in the state’s health sector, assuring that his administration will continue to implement measures aimed at improving healthcare delivery and the welfare of health workers.
Aiyedatiwa gave the assurance on Thursday when the newly elected executive members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Akure.
The governor, who congratulated the new NMA executives on their election, said his administration remained committed to fulfilling its promises to the people through practical interventions across critical sectors, particularly health and education.
Aiyedatiwa said the administration had recorded progress in the health sector through the equipping of hospitals and the commencement of major infrastructure projects, including the construction of 500-bed hospitals across the state.
He assured the medical community that more would be done within the resources available to the government.
“I want to assure you that I will do more, as long as I am there. I will work within the limited resources that are available at my disposal,” he said.
According to him, the administration inherited a health sector that required significant improvement, stressing that his government was determined to strengthen the system and ensure that residents had better access to quality healthcare.
Aiyedatiwa said the security of lives and property remained the administration’s first priority, followed by health and education, adding that no sector would be neglected.
He also thanked the NMA for acknowledging the achievements of his administration, saying the campaign promises made to the people were being translated into visible and verifiable actions.
The governor, while responding to concerns raised by the NMA over the shortage of medical personnel, particularly the absence of doctors serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said the issue would receive his attention.
He said the state government had increased allowances to attract corps members to Ondo State and was also working to improve accommodation at the NYSC camp.
Aiyedatiwa explained that his administration decided to provide better accommodation after he inspected the camp and expressed dissatisfaction with the existing facilities and the condition of the environment.
On the Ondo State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), the governor said his administration would review its composition and formally inaugurate the board.
He explained that the former chairman of the board left following his elevation to the position of Secretary to the State Government, while another member, Dr Segun Ategbole, resigned to contest an election.
The governor said a substantive chairman had been appointed, while Dr Nathaniel Akeredolu had been providing leadership pending the formal inauguration of the board.
“I will look into the composition and do the official inauguration of the board,” he said.
Earlier, the NMA Chairman in Ondo State, Dr Roland Arohunmolase, commended the governor for his commitment to the health sector and the welfare of health workers.
Arohunmolase praised the procurement of modern medical equipment, including a CT scan, as well as the planned construction of 500-bed hospitals across the state.
He also commended the implementation of the new salary structure approved by the National Wages Commission, saying the development had improved the economic wellbeing of health workers and service delivery in the state.
The NMA chairman, however, appealed to the governor to facilitate the return of medical doctors serving under the NYSC scheme to Ondo State.
He recalled that the allowance for corps doctors was reduced from ninety-two thousand to twenty-five thousand after which the posting of medical doctors to the state stopped.
According to him, the return of NYSC doctors would help reduce the workload on practising doctors and address the challenge of burnout among medical personnel.
Arohunmolase also appealed to the governor to correct an error in the computation of the new salary structure, saying “23 basic” was computed instead of the approved 2025 structure.
He said the Head of Service had assured the association that action had commenced on the matter.
The NMA chairman further urged the governor to review and complete the composition of the Hospitals Management Board and ensure its formal inauguration.
The visit was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka; Commissioner for Information, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof. Simidele.