Nigeria health workers recruitment gets approval as FG plans to hire 20,000 staff to strengthen hospitals and improve healthcare across the country

Nigeria health workers are set to receive a major boost as the Federal Government has approved the recruitment and deployment of more than 20,000 professionals across public hospitals in the country.

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Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, made the announcement in Abuja during the launch of the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery.

He explained that 60 per cent of those to be recruited will be nurses and midwives, who form the backbone of patient care in the nation’s hospitals.

Pate noted that the government’s decision forms part of a wider effort to close the gap between the number of available health workers and the growing demand for medical services.

“We are investing in our people because a strong health workforce is central to our nation’s well-being,” he said.

Under the ongoing Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) reforms, the ministry has already retrained more than 69,000 frontline workers across all 36 states.

The minister added that President Bola Tinubu had granted waivers to fast-track the recruitment process, ensuring hospitals can quickly fill critical positions.

The newly launched five-year plan aims to strengthen training and education, improve career progression, expand leadership roles, and retain skilled professionals within Nigeria’s health system.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who attended the event, described the policy as “a clear roadmap to elevate nursing and midwifery and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.”

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachallom, highlighted the plan’s four key priorities: improving nursing education to meet global standards, ensuring fair compensation, empowering nurses to take on leadership roles, and promoting quality healthcare nationwide.

Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Ndagi Alhassan, revealed that the country now produces over 115,000 nurses annually, compared to just 23,000 in previous years.

However, he acknowledged that finding employment for many newly qualified professionals remains a challenge.

To address this, the government intends to collaborate with local communities to train and employ nurses who will serve in their hometowns — a move designed to curb unemployment and reduce migration abroad.

At the event, Professor Pate, Senator Banigo, and Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila were recognised as Ambassadors of the Nursing and Midwifery Profession for their contributions to the sector.

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With this approval, Nigeria’s healthcare system takes a decisive step towards building a stronger, more sustainable workforce that can meet the needs of millions of citizens across the nation.