The Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Umaru Bago has provided automatic employment for 60 medical students in the state’s Civil Service Commission.
The step according to the governor, is to bridge the manpower gap in the state’s healthcare sector.
The students, in return, will continue to work for the state at least 2 years after their graduation.
The 60 medical students who signed the bond with the Niger state government will have the opportunity to earn salaries as medical doctors while still in school.
This is a strategy to reduce brain drain and provide more doctors for the hospitals in the state.
The current doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria stands at one doctor to 9,083 patients which is a stark contrast to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of one doctor to 600 patients.
The continuous exodus of healthcare professionals from Nigeria to developed countries in search of better working conditions is a significant challenge to the healthcare system in Nigeria.
The Niger State government in an attempt to mitigate this challenge is offering these students employment into the civil service at grade level 10.
This employment offer promises a great start for both the students and the government but this can only be sustainable if the working conditions are improved over time.
After the agreed two years service, a quest for a better environment will begin to rise if the working conditions are not improved.
