Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, announced the policy, stating that it follows a detailed needs assessment that revealed an uneven distribution of health personnel across the state. "The goal is to close the gap between urban and rural areas, where healthcare services are desperately needed."
To incentivize compliance and improve retention, the state will provide a 10% salary bonus, modernized health infrastructure, and enhanced security in designated rural locations. "We're committed to making rural areas attractive and livable for our healthcare workers," Dr. Abubakar said.
The initiative is part of Governor Ahmad Aliyu's broader health sector reform agenda, which includes aligning state-employed medical personnel salaries with federal pay scales. This wage adjustment has already led to a reversal of several resignations tendered by healthcare workers.
Professional associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, have praised the reforms and expressed support for the rural service policy. The success of the model may soon influence other sectors, particularly education, where similar deployment strategies are being considered to address teacher shortages in remote areas.
Dr. Abubakar emphasized that the measures are long-term investments in equity and access. "We're building a healthier and more balanced future for Sokoto State."