The Niger State Government has officially absorbed 396 healthcare workers previously employed under a UNICEF and GAVI-supported programme into the state civil service, a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and addressing workforce shortages across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, disclosed this during the presentation of appointment letters to the beneficiaries, noting that the workers have now become permanent staff of the Ministry of Health.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abdullahi Imam, the commissioner said the absorption reflects the government’s commitment to sustaining quality healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots level.
According to him, healthcare delivery depends not only on infrastructure and equipment but also on the availability of qualified personnel.
“While government may provide modern infrastructure and medical equipment, effective healthcare delivery cannot be achieved without adequate manpower,” he said.
Bagana explained that development partners, including UNICEF and GAVI, had previously identified significant human resource gaps in healthcare facilities across the state and worked with the government to address the challenge.
He noted that the partners agreed to invest in young healthcare professionals on the understanding that they would eventually be integrated into the state’s workforce.
“The partners had expressed their 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,” he stated.
The commissioner recalled that the initiative began under the administration of former Governor Abubakar Bello through a Memorandum of Understanding, while Governor Muhammad Umar Bago later reaffirmed the commitment that paved the way for the workers’ absorption.
He revealed that the newly employed personnel, comprising nurses, midwives and community health workers, had already spent between two and three years serving in various communities across the state.
According to him, the workers will continue serving in their current locations, where they have developed valuable experience and built strong relationships with residents.
Bagana also encouraged the employees to pursue further education and professional development to advance their careers within the health sector.
Commending Governor Bago’s investments in healthcare, the commissioner disclosed that more than 3,000 health professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and community health workers, have been recruited by the administration over the past three years.
He added that the government has upgraded about 116 Level-Two health facilities to improve access to critical services such as maternal healthcare, immunisation, nutrition and laboratory testing.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Inuwa Junaidu, described the absorption exercise as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services.
“Human resources remain essential for efficient service delivery,” Junaidu said.
Meanwhile, the Programme Manager, Pharm. Daniel Jiya, described the event as the culmination of three years of collaboration and dedication among stakeholders.
He urged the newly absorbed workers to regard their appointments as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the public service and to strictly adhere to civil service regulations.
