Sokoto State Government has implemented a mandatory two-year rural service for all medical professionals it sponsors to address the acute shortage of medical personnel in rural areas.
The initiative, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, aims to correct long-standing staffing imbalances and ensure equitable healthcare delivery across the state.
Under the new policy, all doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health workers trained by the state government will be required to serve in rural health facilities for a minimum of two years.
This decision comes after a comprehensive need assessment revealed an alarming over concentration of health workers in urban areas, leaving rural communities underserved.
“We are not only assigning them to rural areas, but also providing better pay, improved facilities, and security support,” Dr Abubakar stated during a recent media briefing.
The policy has already garnered interest, prompting interest from the education sector, which is considering a similar model to address teacher shortages in remote areas.
To incentivize compliance and boost morale, the state government has approved a 10 per cent salary bonus for rural service, a measure that Abubakar believes, will encourage many professionals to remain in these communities even after their mandatory service ends.
“We are confident that many will choose to stay due to the positive working environment and incentives,” he added. This rural deployment strategy is part of a broader effort by Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration to improve Sokoto’s healthcare system.
The state government now offers medical and health workers a remuneration package that matches the Federal Government’s salary scale, a move that has impressed organised labour and medical professionals nationwide.
Abubakar credited this achievement to the governor’s visionary leadership and prompt approval of the health ministry’s proposal, saying: “We presented a compelling case to the governor to retain professionals in the sector. We must provide a competitive package—and he agreed. Today, Sokoto health professionals are highly regarded by their peers.”
As a result of this, the state has seen a decrease in the brain drain that previously affected its healthcare system. Many professionals who had submitted resignation letters have rescinded, thanks to the improved welfare provisions.
The commissioner, who highlighted the importance of teamwork in achieving successes in the sector, said: “Healthcare is a team-work. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical scientists, cleaners—all play crucial roles.
“Professional associations, such as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), have applauded the administration’s dedication to staff welfare and expressed renewed confidence in its leadership.
“These reforms are laying the ground work for a stronger, more responsive health system in Sokoto State.”
