The Federal Government has authorised the hiring of 200 medical and clinical personnel at the Federal Medical Centre in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The recruiting, it was learned, is part of the government’s efforts to replace health workers who have recently migrated to foreign countries from the FMC in Abeokuta.
On November 24, the FMC Medical Director received authority to hire new personnel in a letter from the Federation’s Office of the Head of Service.
The letter, HCSF/SPSO/ODD/E&WP/650361, was in response to the medical center’s request for more staff and was headlined, ‘RE: Application For A Waiver To Employ Staff At Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta’.
“I am directed to refer to your letter ref. no. SMH.587/S.26/T/73 dated 31st August, 2023 on the above subject, and convey the approval of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for a waiver to enable Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, to fill a total of Two Hundred (200), positions,” the letter partly read.
The FMC was granted a waiver to employ 100 medical staff on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; 50 nursing officers and 50 nursing superintendents on Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
This approval, it was said, “is based on and limited to the 2023 Approved Establishment position of the Centre which covers the proposed recruitment.”
The Ogun FMC was advised by the letter to “obtain the clearance of the Budget Office of the Federation in line with the provisions of the extant circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before the recruitment; and to adhere to extant rules including the Federal Character principle while filling the vacancies.”
Speaking with our correspondent in a phone interview on Monday, the spokesman for the medical centre, Segun Orisajor, confirmed the authenticity of the letter.
Orisajor said the recruitment of new doctors and nurses would help in addressing the issue of staff shortages occasioned by the so-called Japa syndrome.
“Yes, it is (authentic). The Medical Director, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu quite appreciates the Head of Service of the Federation and Ministers of Health for the kind gesture which will go a long way in reducing the heavy burden on the few hands on ground due to the Japa syndrome,” Orisajor said.
The Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, Dr Jimoh Saheed, had earlier said that in the last four years, the FMC in Abeokuta had lost about 50 consultants and 150 resident doctors to the japa syndrome.