Kano clears N32bn pension backlog, hires 2,037 health workers - Punch Newspapers

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. Photo: Kano State Government

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday said his administration has cleared N32bn of the N48bn inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees, while also recruiting 2,037 health workers to address manpower shortages in public health facilities. Yusuf disclosed the backlog payment in his address at the 66th Independence Day celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano, on Thursday, a day after he presented appointment letters to the newly recruited health personnel, including 250 doctors, 250 nurses and 250 midwives. The figures were contained in a statement by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH on Thursday. “We have so far paid N32bn out of the N48bn backlog of inherited gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state,” Yusuf was quoted as saying. He said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while reviewing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “Our administration has also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions in addition to reviewing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000,” he added. The governor said his administration had continued to prioritise the welfare of workers and pensioners through timely salary payments, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service. According to him, Kano State had maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries by the 25th of every month, while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants. Yusuf said the government was also sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, to improve their administrative and leadership capacity. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce while ensuring that the sacrifices of serving workers and retirees are recognised and treated with dignity. Presenting appointment letters to the newly recruited health workers on Wednesday, the governor said the exercise was aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the state. “The 2,037 newly recruited personnel include 250 medical doctors, 40 pharmacists, 250 nurses, 250 midwives, 150 Community Health Officers, 50 Junior Community Health Extension Workers and 50 medical laboratory scientists, among other health professionals,” Yusuf said. He added that the recruitment became necessary because of shortages of healthcare workers, which had been worsened by the movement of doctors, nurses and other professionals to other locations in search of better opportunities. He, however, warned the new health workers against maltreating patients or demanding money before providing medical consultation or emergency care in public health facilities. “The recruitment became necessary due to the shortage of healthcare workers in the state, which has been worsened by the migration of doctors, nurses and other professionals to other locations in search of better opportunities,” Yusuf said. He urged them to discharge their responsibilities with compassion, integrity, discipline and professionalism, while respecting the rights and dignity of patients irrespective of their social status, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. “No patient should be denied timely medical attention or subjected to unnecessary hardship because of inability to pay before receiving care,” the governor said. Kindly share this story:

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