Cross River State, Governor Bassey Otu has said that his administration will recall several retired physicians who are still physically capable of working.
Otu has also requested that retiring nurses’ contracts be extended for three years.
This is due to a severe scarcity of doctors and other medical workers at public hospitals, despite the fact that many will be retiring at the end of the year.
Dr Henry Egbe, the State Commissioner for Health, revealed this to the press in Calabar.
According to the Commissioner:
“As many in the health sector will also be retiring from service in 2023, the Governor has decided to extend the services of the nurses that would be retiring, for three more years.
“Similarly, the state government is also looking at recalling some of the retired doctors who are still strong to work in the state’s health sector on contract basis.”
Ayuk stated that subject to the governor’s agreement, the state administration will meet with the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Civil Society Organisations to hammer out some incentives for medical practitioners to be dispatched to rural communities.
Meanwhile, the state head of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Felix Archibong, has applauded the Governor’s decision and asked for the recruitment of more physicians with improved working conditions in order to discourage additional doctors from leaving the nation.
cc: Daily Post Ng
