The Abia State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Ezinwa Ezuruike, has urged relevant authorities, including the State Civil Service Commission, to “resume the process for the recruiting of 771 health workers which was approved by Governor Alex Otti.”
Dr Ezuruike made this call during a live appearance on Open Parliament, a radio programme aired on Family Love FM, Umuahia. He expressed concern over the “sudden suspension of the recruitment exercise, last week,” stating that the abrupt halt has raised serious questions.
Commending the state government’s commitment to healthcare development, Ezuruike acknowledged “Governor Alex Otti for his wisdom in approving the employment of more health workers and for reconstructing health facilities in the State.”
While appreciating the government’s efforts, he stressed that the employment process must continue swiftly. He noted that doing so would help balance the “patients-health workers ratio in urban and rural areas.”
According to him, “The Governor has been doing well in the area of renovation and equipping of primary health centre and facilities in the senatorial zones.”
Yet, he insisted that physical upgrades alone are not enough.
“But this must be matched up with the required human resource because it is not the structures that would do these work,” he emphasized.
Dr Ezuruike pointed out that fulfilling the hiring plan as “approved by Governor Otti would go a long way in addressing the shortage of experienced professional health workers in the State.”
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He further argued that each local government area must have a dedicated medical officer and a solid team of health professionals.
On salary concerns, Ezuruike did not hide his disappointment that, “the new salary structure approved for health workers in Abia by Governor Otti has not been implemented, about two months after it was announced.”
He described the delay as frustrating: “But it is sad to know that up till now, the agencies and departments that are to facilitate the commencement of the salary structure which was announced to commence in May 2025 are yet to make that to materialise,” he said.
He maintained that strategic investment in human resources is essential.
“Recruitment of more health workers, adequate salary structure, good working environment and other incentives were key to preventing the best brains in the medical industry from seeking jobs overseas.”
Meanwhile, the Abia State Civil Service Commission, in an earlier statement, said the Ministry of Health’s hiring exercise had been paused but assured all applicants that a new date for its continuation would be communicated.