As the wave of Japa continues to hit the health sector, causing acute manpower shortage in government health facilities, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has approved a special employment procedure that allows immediate replacement of any health practitioner that leaves the service with another qualified personnel, without the government’s ratification.
Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, according to a statement on Saturday, gave the hint when he received the newly elected executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Ogun State Chapter, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
The statement quoted Talabi as saying that, “You know, before now, every employment in the service has to be sanctioned by the governor before the process is undertaken.
“But now, I am pleased to inform you that His Excellency has just given a special approval that is peculiar to the health sector, for the health ministry to employ qualified and suitable personnel to fill the vacancies being created by those leaving the service through their internal mechanism, without having to wait for the Governor’s approval.”
The SSG expressed delight that the administration’s investment in the sector was already yielding results despite challenges confronting the sector nationwide, noting that the staff turnover across health facilities in the state had tremendously improved.
He noted that Abiodun’s passion for a healthy citizenry necessitated reforms in the sector, including the recruitment of 200 health attendants to boost the existing staff in public facilities across the state, while affirming that the administration remained committed to improving the well-being of citizens.
Talabi charged the health workers to remain committed to saving lives, as the government continues to prioritise concerns in the sector, pledging that “we will not deprive you of what we know is right and legitimate; we have to interface to make the system better.”
Speaking earlier, the Ogun State Chairman, of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Adejoke Bello, appreciated the government for improving the welfare of health workers, as well as its interventions in the sector.