Japa: About 3,000 health workers in Niger have migrated, says Commissioner

The Niger Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammed Makusidi, has said that the migration of many workers from the state health sector created a gap of almost 3,000 in human resources.
He said this in an interview with journalists shortly after the 2023 budget defence of the ministry with the state House of Assembly Committee on Health in Minna on Thursday.
Mr Makusidi said that though the migration of medical personnel was a national issue and not peculiar to the state alone, it had lost many young workers to international countries.
“A situation where we have 15 to 20 doctors before, now, we have seven of them and this has reduced efficiency,” he said.
Many Nigerian health workers are relocating abroad for better service condition, a phenomenon now known as Japa syndrome.
The commissioner pointed out that migration of health workers was as a result of career progression, noting that the state government approved and implemented 100 per cent salaries for workers.
He also said that insecurity was one reason for the migration of health workers as some health facilities were attacked by armed bandits and some workers abducted.
According to him, the state lost many of its health workers due to activities of banditry and many workers do not want to stay in red alert areas.
He said that the state government had approved the recruitment of workers into the state civil service, giving priority to the health sector.
The commissioner, however, said that the 2022 budget performance was 44.8 per cent which was very high because the majority of the ministry activities in 2022 were COVID-19 related.
He added that the 2023 budget projection for capital projects was N4.8 billion which was higher than the 2021 allocation of N720 million.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Police nab three over alleged kidnapping of herders in Osun, recover ransom
The police boss said all the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigations.

NationWide
Insecurity: Nigeria, UN to deepen West Africa border policing, says envoy
Mr Ibrahim described the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge.

Africa
Kenya dismisses suit seeking legalisation of cannabis for Rastafarian worshippers
They petitioned the court to allow members to grow and use cannabis during worship.

States
Two suspects arrested over alleged car theft in Bauchi
The suspects were arrested in an intelligence operation at Yelwa area on July 12, 2026 at 10: 30 p.m.

NationWide
Kogi Abduction: Atiku decries normalisation of insecurity under Tinubu
The abduction occurred on Tuesday at about 5:25 p.m. when the students were writing their exam.

States
Ogun, GIZ meet to sustain skills, enterprise initiatives
Ms Sofela reaffirmed the government’s commitment to private sector-led industrialisation.





