Niger State Government has formally absorbed 396 health personnel previously trained and engaged under the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and GAVI-supported initiative into the State Civil Service.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Mohammed Bagana is part of a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and addressing manpower shortages across communities in the State.
The official unveiling and distribution of appointment letters underscored the government’s commitment to sustaining quality healthcare services at the grassroots level.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Honourable Commissioner for Health represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Imam, explained that healthcare services take place largely within communities and the facilities serving them.
He noted that development partners such as UNICEF and GAVI had earlier identified critical shortages in human resources across healthcare facilities and initiated discussions with the State government to address the challenge.
According to him, “while government may provide modern infrastructure and medical equipment, effective healthcare delivery cannot be achieved without adequate manpower.
“The partners had expressed willingness to invest in young healthcare professionals and sought assurances from the Niger State Government that beneficiaries of the programme would eventually be integrated into permanent service due to the long-term nature of healthcare needs.
It should be noted that the previous administration under former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the initiative, while Governor Muhammad Umar Bago reaffirmed the commitment, leading to the eventual absorption of the personnel into the state workforce.
Dr Bagana further disclosed that the newly employed personnel comprise nurses, midwives and community health workers who have already spent between two and three years rendering services within various communities.
He added that the workers would continue to serve in the same areas where they had built experience and community relationships, adding that many of them could further their education and rise into higher professional cadres.
The Commissioner also commended Governor Muhammad Umar Bago for his continued investments in the health sector, revealing that more than 3,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and community health workers have so far been recruited within the last three years.
He noted that about 116 Level Two facilities have been upgraded to improve access to services such as maternal healthcare, immunisation, nutrition and laboratory services.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Inuwa Junaidu, described the absorption of the GAVI-supported staff as evidence of Governor Bago’s dedication to improving healthcare delivery, saying “human resources remain essential for efficient service delivery”.
In their remarks, the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF represented by Grace Odeyemi commended the state government for absorbing the frontline healthcare workers saying “their Absorption will improve the quality of healthcare delivery for children, women and the vulnerable population.”
Also speaking, Programme Manager Pharm. Daniel Jiya, described the event as the successful outcome of a three-year journey marked by determination and collaboration among stakeholders.
While urging the newly absorbed staff to regard their appointments as a privilege, he charged them to adhere strictly to civil service regulations.
