The Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers to work on contract basis after attaining their retirement age.
According to the FG, the appointed contract staff would be placed on same salary scale that they retired on if they desire and deserve it.
This is part of efforts to ease the effect of the mass exodus of health workers to developed countries, which has led to shortage of health professionals in the country.
A circular by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with a circular that was earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.
The office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
“After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.
