Over 4,000 Applicants Jostle For 550 Slots As Taraba Recruits Nurses, Midwives

Taraba State government has begun the screening and interview of over 4,000 applicants seeking employment as nurses and midwives in the state.

The exercise, being conducted by the Taraba State Health Service Management Board at its headquarters in Jalingo, is aimed at recruiting qualified health professionals to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state’s public health facilities.

The executive secretary of the board, Dr Garba Danjuma, said over 4,000 applications were received through the recruitment portal, although the state government approved only 550 positions.

Danjuma explained that the recruitment process was designed to identify and select competent professionals capable of filling critical manpower gaps in the health sector.

According to him, applicants are being subjected to professional and competency-based assessments to ensure that only qualified candidates are considered for employment.

“We received over 4,000 applications after opening the recruitment portal for nurses and midwives.

“However, the state government approved only 550 positions. Our responsibility is to ensure that only qualified and competent personnel are recruited into the service,” he said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya G. Buma, who monitored the exercise, said the recruitment drive reflects the commitment of Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration to revitalising the state’s healthcare system.

He assured applicants that the process would be transparent, fair and merit-driven, stressing that competence and professionalism would remain the key criteria for the selection.

“This administration is committed to improving healthcare delivery across Taraba State. The recruitment exercise will be conducted strictly on merit without favoritism or undue influence,” Dr. Buma stated.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Health Service Management Board, Dr. Ebenezer Apake, said the exercise, expected to last between two and three days, is focused mainly on recruiting nurses and midwives to address personnel shortages in health facilities.

He noted that, successful candidates would be recommended for employment upon completion of the screening process and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to staff welfare and career advancement.

Apake also assured workers that regular promotion exercises would continue, as the matter was discussed during the Board’s 39th meeting.

He said, the exercise was part of the Taraba State Government’s broader effort to strengthen the health sector by improving staffing levels and expanding access to quality healthcare services across the state.