FG approves recruitment of 200 medical staff for FMC, Abeokuta

The federal government has approved the hiring of 200 medical and clinical staff members at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, in an effort to replace health workers who have recently left the country to work abroad.

Vanguard has gathered with reliability that the FMC Medical Director received a letter dated November 24, 2023, from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, approving the hiring of new staff.

The letter, titled "RE: Application For A Waiver To Employ Staff At Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta," was sent in response to the medical centre's request for more employees and was addressed to HCSF/SPSO/ODD/E&WP/650361.

The letter of approval read, “I am directed to refer to your letter ref. no. SMH.587/S.26/T/73 dated 31st August 2023 on the above subject, and convey the approval of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for a waiver to enable Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, to fill a total of two hundred (200), positions,” the letter partly read.

A waiver was given to the FMC so that it could hire 50 nursing officers and 50 nursing superintendents on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure and 100 medical staff on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.

This approval, it was said, “is based on and limited to the 2023 Approved Establishment position of the Centre which covers the proposed recruitment.”

The Ogun FMC was advised by the letter to “obtain the clearance of the Budget Office of the Federation in line with the provisions of the extant circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before the recruitment, and to adhere to extant rules including the Federal Character principle while filling the vacancies.”

In a phone conversation, FMC spokesman Segun Orisajor confirmed the development and stated that hiring additional physicians and nurses would aid in resolving the issue of staff shortages brought on by the alleged Japa syndrome.

“Yes, it is (authentic). The Medical Director, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu quite appreciates the Head of Service of the Federation and Ministers of Health for the kind gesture which will go a long way in reducing the heavy burden on the few hands-on ground due to the Japa syndrome,” Orisajor said.

Source