The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has urged the government of Cross River State in southern Nigeria to grant a waiver on the three years pupillage for student nurses.
The chairperson of the association, Mrs. Josephine Ikpeme-Bassey made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the wife of the Cross River State governor, Reverend Eyoanwan Bassey Otu at her office in Calabar.
Mrs. Ikpeme-Bassey, who congratulated Governor Bassey Otu and his deputy Peter Odey for their victory at the 2023 governorship polls, said that revalidating the years of service of nurses and midwives would positively impact service delivery in the healthcare sector.
Ikpeme-Bassey said, “The student nurses spend three years in college and these three years were erroneously counted for our state-owned trained nurses as part of their years of service. This is making nurses retire prematurely at 32 years rather than 35 years of service.
“Most of the nurses and midwives retire prematurely after 32 years of service only to discover that included as part of 35 years was the three years pupilage. Our humble appeal is that we need the Cross River State Government to review this error as part of efforts to strategically reposition the health sector,” she stated.
CONHESS Balance
The chairperson further urged the government to look into the pending 30 percent pay rise for nurses in the state’s employ in line with the Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure (CONHESS) remuneration package.
She noted, “We are also appealing for the approval of 30 percent balance of CONHESS due to nurses and midwives in the state. It is for the sustenance of human resources and it will help against attrition as well as strengthen healthcare delivery.”
She pledge support for emerging policies of the governor towards upgrading the healthcare sector, noting that the association was equally ready to partner with the office of the wife of the governor to execute people-oriented programmes across the state.
People-oriented
Responding, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu expressed appreciation to the association for the kind words, noting that the ‘People First” agenda of Senator Out was carefully aligned to ensure the people reap the benefits of good and accountable governance.
Mrs. Otu reminded the association of the commitment of the government “to only do that which is beneficial and profitable to the people of Cross River and others resident across the state. The ‘People first’ agenda of the state government, I assure you is targeted at uplifting the health, livelihood and well-being of Cross River people and Nigerians including non-Nigerians residing in the state.
“I am optimistic that in no distant time, everyone will begin to feel the impact of this administration positively. I thank you so much for your visit and kind words. I will also urge you to support this administration to succeed in the implementation of its people-oriented programmes,” Otu urged.
She expressed optimism that the executive council would take appropriate action for infrastructural and personnel upgrades in the healthcare delivery sector of Cross River State.
Dominica Nwabufo
