Manage Your Resources Properly, Taraba Commissioner Counsels Health Workers
By Our Correspondent
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, has charged the Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, in the State to manage the human resources available properly.
The Commissioner gave this Charge in his Office in Jalingo when the State Administrative Council of the Association paid him a visit.
Dr. Buma stressed that the complaints of manpower shortage to a large extent is artificial, blaming the Management of their failure properly manage the human resources at their disposal.
“Part of the problem of manpower shortage is not entirely shortage, but inability to manage what you have, the management I am referring to is both Government fault and your fault too, reason being that we have many Nurses”.
The Commissioner decried abnormalities within the system including lack of proper permission and approval granted to Staff either on casual or study leave among other factors, saying these are factors responsible for the shortage being experienced.
On bonding for medical students, Dr. Buma revealed that Bonding policy will be sustained and used as a guide for employment within the Sector.
The Health Commissioner called for Cooperation and patience from the leadership, assuring them of Government’s readiness to look into their challenges with a view of finding lasting solutions.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Health Services Management Board, Dr. Ahmed Kara, noted that the practice where workers enrol to further their studies without following due process is contrary to the Civil Service rules, warning that henceforth staff who present such certificates will not be recognized by the Board.
Dr. Kara stressed that communications must be carried out through files for proper documentation, adding that, “if we are truly leaders of Associations, we must ensure we live by example, ensure we monitor our Staff, ensure they go to their duty posts and make sure they carry out their responsibilities”.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of NANNM in Taraba State, Mr. Pius Nathaniel, represented by his Vice, Mr. John Ephesians, commended the efforts of the State Government in transforming the Health Sector.
He pointed out notable achievements within the period under review to include, payment of New National Minimum wage to all workers in the State, prompt payment of running cost to all hospitals in the State, on going reconstruction of the College of Nursing and Midwifery and pursuing the implementation of the approved Consolidated Salary Structure, CONHESS, for health care workers amongst many others.
He however outlined some challenges facing the Association which include, gross shortage of Nurses and Midwives in Hospitals, non remitted of deductions made to settle their retirees amounting to #71,052.347.35k, Allowances for Students Nurses and Midwives among other concerns.
Mr. Ephesians called on the Government to look into their plight and proffer solutions as a matter of urgency.
In his comments, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Jibo Yamusa Danjuma while describing the visit as enriching and impactful, urged Health Care workers to be focused and pursue courses relevant to their fields of endeavour instead of diverting to other fields in the course of furthering their studies.
