The Benue State Executive Council has approved the creation of a new Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy to diversify further and strengthen the state’s economic landscape.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, disclosed this while addressing journalists on the outcome of the 10th State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi. He was joined by his counterpart from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese.
Abo explained that the two-day meeting focused largely on follow-up actions from previous sessions, with three major items dominating the agenda.
He noted the presentation of the report by the Agricultural Inputs Verification Committee, adding that a new committee has been established to draft a white paper that will guide the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
The Council also approved the implementation of consolidated medical salaries and clinical duty allowances for staff at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and other healthcare workers across the state.
Commissioner Ortese elaborated on the development, stressing that the increasing migration of health professionals, popularly known as the “Japa syndrome,” has led to a critical shortage of manpower in the health sector.
He said the implementation of the consolidated salary structure is aimed at addressing this gap and retaining medical personnel.
