NEWS
ABIA STATE BOOSTS HEALTH WORKFORCE AS GOV. ALEX OTTI APPROVES RECRUITMENT OF 50 ADDITIONAL NURSES AS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION PRIORITIZES PREVIOUSLY SCREENED CANDIDATES
The Abia State Civil Service Commission has announced plans to recruit 50 additional nurses into the state civil service, following the approval granted by Alex Chioma Otti in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Eno Jerry, made this known during a press briefing where she provided updates on the ongoing recruitment efforts, particularly within the health sector.
She explained that the earlier recruitment exercise conducted by the Commission was specifically designed to address critical manpower shortages in the state’s health system.
However, the exercise was constrained by an approved quota of 500 positions, which meant that a number of qualified candidates could not be absorbed at the time despite meeting the necessary requirements.
Anticipating future staffing needs, the Commission had taken a proactive step by retaining the records of these qualified but unabsorbed candidates in its Human Resource database. This strategic decision is now set to play a key role in the current recruitment phase.
With the recent approval for the engagement of 50 additional nurses, the Commission revealed that priority will be given to candidates drawn from this existing pool of previously screened applicants who had met all requirements but were not accommodated during the initial recruitment.
The Commission further disclosed that in the event the number of eligible candidates from this pool falls short, attention will then shift to individuals who were earlier considered unsuitable solely due to their incomplete participation in the National Youth Service Corps programme at the time. Many of these candidates, it noted, have since completed their mandatory service and may now qualify for employment.
The approach, according to the Commission, is designed to ensure fairness, efficiency, and transparency in the recruitment process, while also maximizing the value of an already vetted talent pool.
Reaffirming its stance, the Commission emphasized its continued commitment to merit-based recruitment, due process, and the enhancement of service delivery within the Abia State civil service, particularly in the health sector where manpower remains a critical component of effective healthcare provision.