Sani Dutsinma
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of health workers and strengthening healthcare services across the state.
Governor Idris gave the assurance at the first Health Workers Convention held in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, where he said workers’ welfare would remain a priority of his administration.
He said his government would continue to work closely with labour leaders to address challenges affecting workers while ensuring improved healthcare delivery across the state.
The governor recalled that upon assumption of office, his administration was determined to address unemployment among young graduates despite existing restrictions on recruitment.
According to him, the government has so far employed 5,166 workers across the core civil service, health and education sectors.
Governor Idris also reaffirmed his commitment to the prompt payment of salaries, pensions and other entitlements, attributing the government’s ability to meet its obligations to prudent financial management.
He said the state had also implemented the new minimum wage structure in consultation with labour leaders, with the aim of promoting fairness and protecting workers’ interests.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Ismaila Yakubu Augie, outlined some of the achievements recorded in the health sector.
He said the government had renovated 25 general hospitals and about 173 primary healthcare centres across the state.
The commissioner added that the administration had recruited health professionals, including nurses, midwives, laboratory scientists and pharmacists, while some casual workers had been transferred to the formal payroll.
According to him, the renovated health facilities were equipped with medicines, ambulances and other essential medical equipment to improve access to quality healthcare services.
He disclosed that the state government had invested about N2 billion in ambulances and introduced measures to address welfare concerns among state-employed doctors.
The measures, he said, were aimed at reducing the movement of medical professionals from state facilities to federal institutions.
In his vote of thanks, the Kebbi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Murtala Usman, commended Governor Idris for attending the convention and for his continued partnership with organised labour.
He expressed appreciation for the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and prayed for continued peace, progress and development in the state.
The health workers, comprising members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Medical Laboratory Scientists, reaffirmed their support for the administration and expressed confidence in its healthcare reforms.
The health workers also presented a progress report on grassroots healthcare mobilisation, including interventions that supported 2,500 pregnant women.
They pledged continued cooperation with the state government in efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes across Kebbi State.