Nigeria Approves Recruitment of 20,000 Health Workers Nationwide

The Nigerian federal government has announced the approval for the recruitment and deployment of over 20,000 health workers in public health facilities across the country. This initiative is part of the Sector-wide Approach (SWAP) reform in the health sector and aims to address significant gaps in healthcare delivery. The announcement was made on October 5, 2023, by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Mohammad Pate, during the launch of Nigeria’s Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) in Abuja.

As part of this comprehensive effort, the government has retrained 69,000 frontline health workers across all 36 states. Prof. Pate emphasized the critical role that nurses play in healthcare, stating that they are essential to patient care within hospital services. He noted the government’s commitment to investing in the health workforce, particularly in nursing and midwifery, to bridge the significant supply-demand gap in Nigeria’s healthcare labor market.

The newly unveiled five-year action plan aims to strengthen healthcare delivery and transform the nursing profession throughout the country. Prof. Pate remarked, “This administration, under His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to uplifting the nursing and midwifery profession.”

This strategic plan will focus on four key pillars: enhancing education, creating rewarding career pathways, expanding leadership roles, and retaining top talent within the health system. Prof. Pate described the initiative as a practical guide that will shape reforms and investments in nursing and midwifery over the next five years, aiming to position Nigeria as a contributor to global health system resilience through a skilled and motivated workforce.

The federal government has granted waivers for the recruitment of the health workers, with approximately 60 percent of them expected to come from the nursing and midwifery sectors, as these professionals form the frontline of healthcare delivery.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, highlighted the importance of this initiative, calling it a bold and comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen institutions and enhance the contributions of nurses and midwives to national development. He urged all stakeholders, including government agencies and educational institutions, to collaborate fully to implement this strategic document.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachallom, elaborated on the goals of the policy roadmap. She stated that it aims to reform and scale up nursing and midwifery education to meet both local and global demands. Additionally, the policy seeks to ensure quality job creation, develop sustainable employment strategies, and empower nurses and midwives to take on leadership roles in policy, planning, and service delivery.

The Registrar of the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ndagi Alhassan, noted a significant increase in the annual production of nurses, which has risen from 23,000 to over 115,000. Despite this progress, he acknowledged the challenge of engaging these trained nurses, particularly regarding government employment opportunities. To address this issue, the Council is collaborating with communities to select and train nurses committed to serving in their local areas.

The event also featured the awarding of Ambassadors of the Nursing/Midwifery profession to Prof. Pate, Senator Banigo, and Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, recognizing their contributions to improving the nursing and midwifery fields in Nigeria.

With this substantial investment in healthcare personnel, Nigeria aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of medical services, ultimately benefiting its population through a more robust and efficient healthcare system.