The Plateau State Government has clarified that the salaries of health workers recruited under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Project are determined by existing state and local government salary structures, and not by the World Bank-backed programme.
The clarification was made on Saturday in Jos by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, following concerns over the remuneration of newly recruited health personnel.
He said the recruitment exercise was undertaken to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state and was conducted in accordance with approved civil service procedures. He explained that salary placement for the workers was based on established public service regulations and accepted terms of employment, stressing that neither the HOPE Project nor the World Bank played any role in determining workers’ pay.
In a statement, the commissioner said the remuneration of the recruited health workers was governed by existing Plateau State and local government salary structures, including the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), where applicable.
“The remuneration of recruited health workers is governed by the existing Plateau State and local government salary structures, including the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), as applicable,” Baamlong said.
He added that salary placement was determined strictly in line with public service regulations and not by the HOPE Project or the World Bank.
According to the commissioner, the Plateau State Government has yet to receive any disbursement under the HOPE Project. He explained that the salaries of newly recruited workers are currently being paid through existing local government and relevant agency payroll systems, using approved salary structures and conditions of service agreed upon during recruitment.
Baamlong further stated that the recruitment exercise was carried out through a collaborative process involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board, and other relevant government agencies.
He noted that the exercise was designed to strengthen healthcare services across the state and was implemented in line with established civil service procedures.
The commissioner explained that the recruitment formed part of the World Bank-supported HOPE Project, which operates under a Performance-for-Results (PforR) financing model.
“Under this arrangement, implementation is carried out through existing government systems and structures rather than through parallel mechanisms,” he said.
Baamlong also disclosed that the Ministry of Health was engaging stakeholders to address operational concerns raised by health workers in accordance with existing public service regulations.
According to him, the discussions are aimed at ensuring the equitable distribution of health personnel across facilities while maintaining constructive engagement with relevant professional bodies.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving the health sector, expanding access to quality healthcare services, and creating sustainable employment opportunities for qualified residents.
The commissioner said these objectives align with national health priorities and the goals of the HOPE Project, which seeks to improve human capital development through reforms and results-based implementation.
Dr. Baamlong acknowledged that health sector reforms should benefit both healthcare workers and the communities they serve, adding that the welfare, concerns, and aspirations of health workers remain important considerations in ongoing policy discussions.
“In line with the government’s commitment to continuous improvement, consultations are ongoing with relevant stakeholders to progressively review and harmoniseapplicable structures where necessary,” he said.
He, however, noted that any review process would follow established public service procedures and require extensive consultation, careful planning, and adequate time to ensure fairness, sustainability, and equity across the health sector.
Dr. Baamlong reiterated the ministry’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the welfare of health workers, assuring that personnel within the state’s health system would continue to operate under lawful, fair, and professionally appropriate conditions.
He also reassured residents of the government’s commitment to providing effective and accessible healthcare services and urged citizens to support efforts aimed at building a stronger and more responsive primary healthcare system.
