The Federal Government has approved the hiring of 200 medical and clinical personnel, including doctors and nurses, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
News About Nigeria reports that this move is part of the government’s efforts to replace health workers who have migrated to foreign nations from FMC Abeokuta.
The approval for the recruitment was conveyed in a letter from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, dated November 24 and addressed to the FMC Medical Director.
The letter granted a waiver for the employment of 100 medical staff on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, along with 50 nursing officers and 50 nursing superintendents on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
The letter advised the FMC to obtain clearance from the Budget Office of the Federation before the recruitment and adhere to extant rules, including the Federal Character principle.
The spokesman for the medical centre, Segun Orisajor, confirmed the authenticity of the letter and noted that the recruitment would address staff shortages caused by the ‘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.
Dr Jimoh Saheed, Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, highlighted that FMC Abeokuta had lost about 50 consultants and 150 resident doctors to the ‘Japa syndrome’ in the last four years.
