Governor Bassey Otu administration has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare of nurses and other health workers in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
Speaking through the State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, at the 2026 International Nurses Day celebration held at the General Hospital, Calabar, the Governor announced plans to extend the retirement age of nurses and recruit more medical personnel into the state civil service.
The new retirement package would allow nurses and other health workers to remain in service for an additional five years.
He said the move is aimed at retaining experienced professionals, discouraging the migration of healthcare workers abroad and addressing manpower shortages within the state’s health sector.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, Coco-Bassey Esu, described nurses as the backbone of the healthcare system and urged them to emulate the compassion, discipline and selfless service associated with Florence Nightingale.
This year’s International Nurses Day celebration, themed “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” ended with renewed calls for improved welfare, better working conditions and sustained investment in the nursing profession as stakeholders stressed the critical role of nurses in strengthening healthcare delivery across Cross River State.
The event, which brought together nurses, healthcare professionals and government officials, was marked with tributes to the contributions of nurses to the healthcare sector and renewed calls for improved welfare for health workers.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
