Cross River Govt Urged To Recruit More Nurses

As part of activities marking the International Nursing Week 2026, chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Cross River State Council, Comrade Josephine Bassey, has asked the state government to carry out “massive employment of nurses and midwives.”

She said her call was prompted by the need to address the severe staff shortage in health facilities across the state.

Bassey made the appeal during an interactive session with LEADERSHIP in her office yesterday in Calabar.

She said employing more nurses and midwives would directly tackle the manpower deficit in the sector, and argued that “investment in nursing workforce would amount to a step in the right direction.”

The NANNM chairman warned that the current shortage is placing “enormous pressure on the few available personnel, leading to burnout, stress, reducing efficiency.”

She urged governments at all levels to act quickly to bridge the manpower gap.

Speaking on the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” she advocated for upgrading of health facilities and provision of infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.

“Quality healthcare cannot thrive in poorly equipped environments,” she said, calling for rehabilitation and equipping of primary healthcare centres to ensure conducive working conditions and better patient care.

Bassey urged state and federal governments to invest massively in nurses through improved welfare packages, training, remuneration, and safe working conditions.

The chairman called for the implementation of the approved upward review of the retirement age for nurses and other health professionals to 65 years, or 40 years of pensionable service.

The association chairman argued that retaining experienced nurses can “strengthen mentorship, improve healthcare outcomes, and stabilize the health sector.”

Bassey described Nurses Week as a period dedicated to honouring the “invaluable contributions, sacrifices, resilience, and commitment of nurses towards improving healthcare delivery and saving lives.”

She stressed that nurses remain “the backbone of healthcare delivery,” serving in hospitals, communities, schools, rural health centres, and emergency settings despite enormous challenges.

“Investing in nurses is investing in the future of healthcare and only empowered nurses can save lives,” she maintained.

Bassey commended the Cross River State Government for its support to nursing education and healthcare development.

She lauded Governor Bassey Otu for providing three 32-seater coaster buses to nursing training institutions, stating, “This thoughtful intervention will greatly enhance transportation, learning activities, and the overall welfare of nursing students.”

The association also praised the government’s efforts in securing accreditation for nursing training institutions from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)

“This achievement is a significant milestone that strengthens nursing education, promotes academic excellence, and guarantees the continuous production of competent nursing professionals for our healthcare system,” she said.