Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved an extension of the retirement age for skilled clinical health professionals in state-owned hospitals from 60 to 65 years, or length of service from 35 to 40 years, whichever comes first.
The policy is aimed at addressing manpower shortages in public hospitals, retaining experienced medical personnel and improving healthcare delivery across the state.
The extension covers 26 categories of skilled clinical health professionals actively engaged in clinical services in government hospitals.
The beneficiaries include medical officers, nursing officers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, optometrists, psychologists, dental officers, community health officers and audiologists.
Others are dieticians, medical laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, X-ray technicians, dental technologists, dental therapists and orthoptists, among other clinical professionals.
The approval followed appeals by the Delta State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which urged the government to adopt the policy after its approval at the federal level.
Under the implementation guidelines, eligible officers seeking to benefit from the extension are required to apply through their respective Chief Medical Directors six months before attaining 60 years of age or completing 35 years in service.
Applicants must also provide a medical certificate confirming their fitness to continue working.
The Chief Medical Directors are expected to forward applications from interested officers to the Ministry of Health for screening and approval by the Commissioner for Health.
However, the policy excludes skilled clinical health professionals working in ministries and extra-ministerial departments, as it is specifically designed for personnel actively engaged in clinical practice in government hospitals.
The state government expects the extension to help retain experienced health workers whose professional skills and institutional knowledge are essential to the effective operation of public health facilities.
By allowing eligible and medically fit clinical personnel to remain in service for an additional five years, the policy is also expected to preserve expertise and strengthen staffing capacity across the state’s hospital system.
The policy takes effect from the date of the governor’s approval, subject to the prescribed application, screening and approval procedures.
