Niger Set To Recruit 384 Health Workers – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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Chinwendu Nnadozie

Worried by the rate of rejections of postings to rural communities apparently due to security reasons, Niger State government has expressed preparedness to engage the services of 384 health workers, including medical doctors.

The state government’s concerns over the high rate of rejection of postings in Local Government Areas (LGAs) is coming months after a medical doctor said to be an employee of the state government was abducted in Borgu by suspected armed bandits operating in the area.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana disclosed this at a One-day orientation programme for the 396 Gavi-Supported Staff absorbed into the Niger state Civil Service.

“More than seventy percent of Doctors employed recently turned down the offer, they prefer to work in urban areas”, the Commissioner said as he expressed sadness over outright rejection of posting by the newly recruited health workers.

The government will henceforth not entertain excuses for reposting, adding that, “Though we have seen in the spaces that there are issues around their availability, we have realised that there are also areas we are experiencing mal-distribution of healthcare workers”.

The Commissioner said, “We don’t want a situation whereby these newly absorbed workers are posted to a PHC facility in the rural areas and for whatever reason they are requesting to be reposted to urban or choiced areas”.

He told the 396 Gavi-supporyed staff that, “None of you is immune to being queried or sacked for wrongdoings because there are thousands of persons who are waiting for replacement out there”.

“There is no special staff, everyone will be treated equally in the cause of your service delivery. Do not give reasons for you to be sacked by the government”.

While assuring that the state government will provide the newly intakes with all the necessary equipment and conducive environment for them to work, Dr. Bagana said, “Wherever our workers are posted, we will ensure there are tools, drugs and commodities for them to be able to discharge their duties”.

The Executive Director, Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa had earlier disclosed of plans to have another set of ad-hoc sfaff recruited to beef-up the state workforce as full time staff.

While urging the newly absorbed workers to be disciplined and to take their jobs seriously, Dr. Inuwa said, “We had shortfall in the health sector workforce and the Governor approved the engagement of enough health worker so that all the PHCs across the 25 LGAs state have enough staff”.

He said, “When Governor Bago came onboard, he recruited 100 health workers, out of that, a sizeable number were deployed to the PHC facilities, there is also another arrangement with the Federal Ministry of Health to engage 384 ad-hoc staff which will be absorbed into the civil service in the next three years”.

“Governor Bago also assured that, the state will be engaging at least 200 health workers every two years. So, there are a lot of opportunities to see that our PHCs have enough human resources to function maximally”.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Imam who earlier commended the Gavi for the initiatives said it has helped the absorbed workers acquire enough experience even before their being absorbed into the state Civil Service.