The Sokoto State Government has made a two-year rural service compulsory for all state-sponsored medical graduates, in a move aimed at addressing the persistent shortage of healthcare workers in underserved areas.
Announcing the initiative, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, said the new policy affects doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals trained under state sponsorship. Upon graduation, they will be deployed to rural health facilities across the state.
“Too many of our professionals are concentrated in urban centres, while rural areas suffer from a dire lack of qualified personnel. This policy is designed to correct that imbalance,” Abubakar explained.
To encourage compliance and long-term retention, the state will offer incentives including a 10% salary bonus, upgraded healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced security measures in rural areas.
“We’re not just sending people to rural communities; we’re making those places attractive to work in,” he added.
The rural service mandate is part of broader health sector reforms under Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration, which also includes the harmonisation of salaries between state and federal health workers, a move that has already convinced many professionals to withdraw resignation letters.
“These reforms are laying a sustainable foundation for a healthier, more equitable future for Sokoto State,” the commissioner said.
