The Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has granted approval for the employment of 246 medical and health workers in the State to man seven specialised departments.
The Governor said the move became imperative in order to adequately provide healthcare services to the people of the state.
Sule disclosed this when he hosted the National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah, at the Government House, on Thursday.
The governor disclosed that the category of workers to be employed include 30 additional doctors, 15 pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians, 70 nurses as well as 50 medical laboratory technicians.
Engr. Sule noted that he had equally given approval for the employment of 35 health and information management officers, 40 health assistants and 6 radiographers.
Commenting on the issue of promotion for the civil servants in the state, the Governor stated that his administration will consider the matter as it affects every civil servant, not only doctors.
He stressed that anybody serving the people of the state, will be assessed and promoted based on the resources available to the state.
On the issues of doctors working in the state being taxed heavily, Engineer Sule said he has directed the state Accountant General to look into the matter with a view to reverse any excess tax, especially for medical doctors.
Also speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, Engr Sule applauded the medical doctors for their sacrifices during the peak of the pandemic and urged them to continue to take all the necessary precautions as the pandemic is still around.
The Governor further called on them not to relax their earlier position, thinking the coronavirus has been defeated.
Earlier in his remarks, the NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, commended the Governor Sule-led administration for its cordial relationship with medical and dental practitioners in the state.
The NMA President said they were at the government house to inform the governor about certain issues they consider as barriers to healthcare delivery system.
Prof. Ujah was accompanied on the visit by the national officers of the NMA, as well as the newly elected state chairman of the association and his officials.
