GOVERNMENT PAYS NURSES’ ARREARS, PLANS TO RECRUIT 16,000 HEALTH WORKERS

GOVERNMENT PAYS NURSES’ ARREARS, PLANS TO RECRUIT 16,000 HEALTH WORKERS

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the payment of two months’ salary arrears to newly recruited nurses, while outlining plans to engage up to 16,000 health workers to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

In a press release dated April 28, the Ministry stated that the payment forms part of efforts to address concerns raised by newly employed nurses across the country regarding delays in salary disbursement.

The Ministry further assured that additional payments covering three months—from May to July 2026—will be made as previously scheduled, bringing relief to affected personnel.

It expressed gratitude to nurses and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation, emphasizing government’s commitment to building a more responsive and efficient health workforce to improve service delivery nationwide.

Officials also advised individuals facing challenges or seeking clarification on their payments to contact the Human Resource for Health Development Directorate of the Ministry for assistance.

On recruitment, the Ministry revealed that it is working toward employing about 16,000 health professionals this year. It noted that financial clearance has already been secured for approximately 8,000 positions, while processes are ongoing to obtain approval for the remaining slots.

The Ministry stressed that recruitment will only be carried out with the necessary financial backing and indicated that the approved clearances have been allocated across different health cadres to ensure a structured and phased intake of personnel into the system.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and fairness, the Ministry stated that its official recruitment portal remains the sole authorised platform for all recruitment activities.

It also acknowledged that the large number of applicants has put pressure on the system, resulting in some candidates experiencing difficulties accessing the portal. The Ministry described these concerns as understandable and assured applicants that efforts are underway to secure additional clearances to accommodate more qualified health professionals.

The update forms part of broader government efforts to address staffing gaps in the health sector and enhance access to quality healthcare services across the country.