Governor Bassey Otu considers raising doctors’ retirement age to 65 in Cross River State.
The move aims to retain skilled professionals and boost healthcare delivery across the state.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has hinted at a possible extension of the retirement age for doctors in the state from 60 to 65 years as part of broader efforts to strengthen the healthcare sector.
He made this known on Wednesday while receiving the national leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), who are in Calabar for their July National Executive Council meeting.
According to Otu, the move is being considered to help address the ongoing shortage of skilled medical professionals in the state. He said retaining experienced doctors for a longer period would not only improve healthcare delivery but also promote mentorship for younger professionals.
“In light of the challenges we face, especially the limited number of skilled personnel, we’re seriously thinking about adjusting the retirement age from 60 to 65. This will help preserve critical expertise in our system and support the training of the next generation,” the governor said.
He emphasized that reforms in the health sector require both sound government policies and strong ethical commitment from healthcare workers. Otu urged doctors to maintain high professional standards, saying this would help restore public trust and reduce the ongoing brain drain in the medical field.
While acknowledging the government’s competing obligations such as in education, infrastructure, and agriculture the governor assured that healthcare remains a top priority.
He noted, “All sectors must develop in tandem. We’re open to dialogue and reasoned engagement when it comes to welfare and sector-related concerns. We’ve started implementing an enhanced salary structure and are working to make things better for our medical workforce. Progress may be gradual, but our direction is clear and people-focused.”
In his remarks, NARD President Dr. Osundare Tope commended Governor Otu for approving 70% of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors in the state. Speaking through Vice President 1, Abdulrauf Tajudeen, he encouraged the state government to take further steps toward aligning state salaries with those at the federal level.
He stressed that equal pay across both levels of government would help reduce internal migration and retain medical talent in Cross River.
Also speaking, the NARD Chairman in Cross River, Dr. Emmanuel Ogar, appreciated the governor for supporting the association’s national meeting in Calabar. He invited him to attend the weeklong event as the special guest of honour.
