The Oyo State government has announced that the recruitment of nurses, midwives, nurse educator and other health workers into general hospitals across the state will soon commence.
It disclosed that the recruitment of the health workers was aimed at addressing the gross shortage of staff to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
Chairman, Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, stated this during a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in his office.
NANNM, Oyo State had embarked on an industrial strike to press home its demand for improved and better working condition.
As stated in a release on Friday by the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Board chairman disclosed that the government will work to meet eight-point demand of the association.
Fagbemi acknowledged the various letters written by the association to the Board before his assumption of office, saying the letters necessitated the call for his meeting with them.
On behalf of the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, he appreciated the NANNM leadership, Oyo State chapter for its willingness to work with the government to resolve the ongoing strike.
He also commended the members of the association for the critical services they are rendering to the state and the people.
He said the Governor Makinde-led administration is a listening government that has put all machineries in place to address the agitation of the association long before the commencement of the strike.
The Board chairman assured the leadership of the association that the government will do everything possible to resolve the situation and therefore urged it to have a rethink of its earlier decision to embark on strike.
According to him, the services being rendered by health workers are critical to the state and cannot be toyed with.