Niger NLC frowns at politicization of appointment of Directors of PHC Depts LGAs

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State Council, Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene has frowned at the politicization of appointment of Directors of Primary Health Care Departments in most of the local government areas of Niger State.

The NLC chairman, who doubles as the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Niger State Chapter, expressed his concern at the send forth ceremony for 10(ten) Directors of Primary Health Care who recently retired from active service, the ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Medical and Health Workers Union in Minna the State capital.

The Labour Boss was represented by Comrade Adamu Akayako, who is also the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT,) Niger State Wing, expressed concern over reported instances of junior officers being appointed to supervise senior directors, saying such practices dampen the morale and productivity of staff, calling on all stakeholders to work in synergy to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.

He said that appointment of Directors should always be based on seniority, efficiency, stating that “I can’t imagine picking somebody on grade level 12 to come and lead a grade level 16 officer, so this is where we are having issues; and such issues you know we are all concerned about the productivity and delivery,”the chairman added.

He then urged the retirees to continue guiding the junior ones when consulted, describing retirement as not the end of life but a transition into another phase in life.

The Labour leader was quick to add that “It was a long journey and it has come to an end as far as the civil service is concerned, but our happiness is that they retired strong and alive and that is why we come to celebrate them and we wish them more success in their future endeavours.

The funfair was organized by the Niger State Primary Health Care Directors Forum in conjunction with the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Niger State Council.Labour leaders used the occasion to call for improved succession planning and stronger collaboration within the health sector.

In an interview with journalists on the sidelines of events, the State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN), Niger State Chapter, Comrade Usman Abubakar Dabban, described the ceremony as historic and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Primary Health Care to address administrative gaps and manpower issues across the state.

Comrade Dabban noted that the union had resolved all outstanding payments under its “Endwell Savings Scheme” since its inception in 2017, stressing that no retiree is owed single kobo from both the State and local governments.

He advised the retired directors to remain available to support their successors, saying “they are retired but not tired,” while commending the state government for its recent recruitment into the health sector and expressed hope that manpower shortages would be resolved within the current administration’s tenure.

Dabban added that the collaboration with the Directors Forum was necessary because the retirees are part of the union community and deserve to be celebrated. “As you know, Primary Healthcare is a broad department, activities are always ongoing at any particular point in time. So they should work closely with their colleagues to ensure that each time there are vacancies, let them make themselves available,” he stated

One of the retirees, Comrade Alhassan Musa Kaboji, described the ceremony as uplifting and urged workers to prepare early for retirement, while appreciating the union, the Directors Forum, and other stakeholders for supporting retirees, and calling on government to sustain efforts at clearing outstanding benefits.

Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of awards and tokens to the retirees. The ten directors that retired were from Bosso, Shiroro, Paikoro, Lapai. Agaie, Mashegu, Wushishi, Rafi, Kontagora and Chanchaga.

Meanwhile,the National President, Association of Directors and Coordinators of PHC in Nigeria, Comrade Alhassan Musa Kaboji and his Niger State counterpart, David D. Barde JP, attended the send forth ceremony.