KANO, Nigeria – In a bid to address the shortage of medical personnel in rural communities, the Sokoto State Government has introduced a mandatory two-year rural service for all medical professionals it sponsors.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, who disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing, said the policy aims to correct staffing imbalances and ensure equitable healthcare delivery across the state.
“All doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied workers trained by the state will serve a minimum of two years in rural areas,” he said.
To boost compliance, the government approved a 10% salary bonus, alongside improved facilities and security for rural workers.
“This is not just about deployment; we’re also motivating them to stay,” he added.
Dr. Abubakar said the initiative is part of Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s broader reforms to reposition the healthcare sector.
He noted that Sokoto now pays health workers salaries equal to the Federal Government scale, a move that has reversed resignations and attracted commendation from professional bodies like the NMA and NANNM.
“These reforms are laying the foundation for a stronger, more responsive system,” the commissioner said, adding that other sectors, including education, are now studying the model.
