The Nigerian government has announced that it will require an estimated N4.55 billion over the next three years to recruit 122,696 health workers necessary to fill vacant positions in Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across 26 states.
Zaiyanatu Umar, the Human Resource for Health and Project Management Lead at the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office, made this disclosure during the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting on national healthcare implementation, which took place in Abuja on Friday.
According to her, the funding estimate was derived from baseline data submitted by the 26 states that participated in a nationwide assessment of staffing levels in relation to the country’s Primary Health Care Minimum Staffing Standards.
She elaborated that this exercise was conducted to support the implementation of the World Bank-backed HOPE-GOV Programme, specifically its Disbursement-Linked Indicator 5.2, which aims to enhance the availability of qualified healthcare workers at various levels of the health system.
The assessment findings indicated that the participating states require a total of 220,755 health workers to meet the established staffing standards; however, only 98,059 positions are currently filled, resulting in a deficit of 122,696 workers.
Furthermore, the data revealed that states currently have an average of 7.5 primary healthcare workers for every 10,000 individuals, with 55.6 percent of required positions remaining unoccupied.
Regional disparities were also noted. The South East exhibited the most significant shortage, with a 73 percent staffing gap and only 1.9 health workers per 10,000 population. The North West followed closely with a 70.9 percent shortfall and 5.8 workers per 10,000 individuals, while the South West reported a 59.3 percent deficit.
The North Central zone indicated a workforce gap of 49.5 percent, averaging eight workers per 10,000 population. The South-South experienced a 46.8 percent shortage, while the North East had the lowest deficit at 33.9 percent.
“Facilities in the South East are inadequately staffed by all available measures, in contrast to the North, where state and local government payrolls contribute additional personnel,” Umar remarked.
In related developments, Dr. Emuren Doubra, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, reported that over N2.41 billion has been disbursed to states and federal tertiary health institutions since 2023 to support emergency medical interventions.
He noted that more than 130,000 patients have benefited from this intervention, while the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System allocated an additional N1.49 billion to tertiary health facilities between January 2023 and May 2026.
Dr. Doubra announced that plans are underway to extend emergency medical operations from the current 32 states to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as to increase the coverage of Rapid Emergency Services and Medical Ambulance Teams from 139 to 172 local government areas before the year concludes.
The meeting also addressed Nigeria’s funding request submitted under the Global Fund Grant Cycle Eight programme. Dr. Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Director of the Country Coordinating Mechanism, revealed that Nigeria has been allocated $791.6 million under the new cycle, a decrease from the $933.1 million received under the current Grant Cycle Seven.
He explained that the reduction in funding has necessitated reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening government ownership, minimizing duplication, and integrating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes.
Additionally, Nigeria has earmarked $42.8 million from disease-specific allocations to bolster health systems over the next three years through investments in laboratory services, supply chains, disease surveillance, community engagement, and health financing.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund continues to serve as Nigeria’s primary mechanism for expanding access to quality primary healthcare and advancing universal health coverage nationwide.
Credit: Wundef Media
