The Federal Government has approved the recruitment and deployment of 20,000 new health workers into federal medical facilities, alongside the retraining of 69,000 frontline personnel across all 36 states under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Health Reform Programme.
Speaking at the rollout of Nigeria’s Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through workforce expansion, modernization, and capacity development.
According to the Minister, 60 percent of the newly recruited health workers will come from the nursing and midwifery professions, given their critical role in healthcare delivery nationwide. The retraining of 69,000 frontline health workers, he added, will ensure consistent standards of care and improved service delivery at the state and local government levels.
Professor Pate also confirmed that President Tinubu has approved necessary waivers to fast-track the recruitment process, describing the move as a demonstration of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda in action. He emphasized that the government’s efforts are focused on ensuring that every Nigerian has access to skilled healthcare providers and a resilient national health system that meets international standards.
