The Taraba State Government has commenced the recruitment and interview of 550 nurses and midwives to address critical manpower shortages in its health facilities.
The exercise, underway at the Health Service Management Board headquarters in Jalingo, involves professional and competency-based assessments to ensure only qualified candidates are selected.
Speaking during the process, the Board’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Garba Danjuma, revealed that more than 4,000 applicants applied through the recruitment portal, far exceeding the state’s approved quota.
“We opened our portal in search of qualified nurses and midwives, and over 4,000 applications were received. However, the state government has approved only 550 positions. Our focus is to ensure that only competent and qualified professionals are recruited,” he said.
Taraba’s Commissioner for Health, Budiya Buma, who visited the interview venue, reiterated Governor Agbu Kefas’s commitment to revitalising the health sector. He assured applicants that the process would be transparent and strictly merit-based.
“This administration is committed to strengthening healthcare delivery in Taraba State. The recruitment will be based on merit, competence and professionalism, not on personal connections or influence,” Buma stated.
The Board’s Chairman, Dr. Ebenezer Apake, said the two-to-three-day exercise focuses mainly on nurses and midwives. Successful candidates will be recommended for employment, he added, while reaffirming the Board’s dedication to staff welfare and regular promotions—a matter recently discussed during the Board’s 39th meeting.
The recruitment forms part of the state government’s broader efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery and improve access to quality medical care.