Niger State Government said it has approved the recruitment of 1000 health workers to address the issue of a shortage of manpower in the health sector of the state.
The state Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, made this disclosure on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2023 State Delegates Conference of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Niger State Council, held at the Nurses Endwell Hall, Minna.
The governor, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, also observed that the manpower shortage was not peculiar to the health sector but across all sectors of the state, adding that they were working on recruiting another 2000 workers for other sectors.
He said the remunerations of the health workers to be recruited had already been worked out, hoping that between now and the end of the year, all processes would be concluded and appointment letters would be issued to the successful candidates.
The governor also tasked the health workers with maintaining professionalism, saying their profession was delicate as they were dealing with human lives and urging them to do everything humanly possible to maintain professionalism.
On the issue of brain drain, the governor advised that workers should not just focus on the salary they get but should also think about patriotism through their service to the state.
While commending the outgoing leadership of the state council of NANNM for all it has done to move the association to a greater height, the governor also advised union leaders in the state to always recognise their veterans, adding that if they utilise the mentorship of their senior colleagues, it will take them to great heights.
The state commissioner for secondary and tertiary health, who was the guest of honour at the occasion, Dr. Tukur Bello, described the nurses and midwives as the nucleus of the healthcare system in the state, on which every segment of the health sector relies.
He explained that the creation of the ministries of primary healthcare and secondary and tertiary health was done to make the job of health workers in the state easier and not for the purpose of competition, thereby calling for synergy between workers of both ministries.
In her remarks at the occasion, the National Treasurer of the association, Mercy Laraba Lenka, said the Niger Council of the association was dear to the heart of the national body because it has never given them a cause to worry about.
She observed that nurses and midwives were the heart of the health sector, and without them, hospitals would just remain as the structures they are, urging the state government to address the issue of manpower shortages.
Earlier in her welcome address, the state chairperson of the association, Comrade Anna Simon, said when they came into office four years ago, they came with the vision of a quality healthcare delivery system and the improvement of members welfare, saying the journey was rough but with resilience and dedication they were able to steer through.
She gave her stewardship and declared some of the achievements under her leadership, which include the purchase of three utility vehicles, the payment of the contributions of over 100 retired members of the association to the tune of about N312 million, and educational support to some members to get B.Sc. nursing qualification, among other achievements.
She also appreciated the governor's interest in transforming the Shiroro Hotel complex into the IBB University Teaching Hospital, as well as the old secretariat into the College of Nursing Sciences.
There were also goodwill messages from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other industrial unions present.