The Sokoto State Government has introduced a mandatory two-year rural posting policy for all state-sponsored health professionals in a strategic move to strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
Dr. Farouk Abubakar, the State Commissioner for Health, announced the new initiative following the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Thursday.
"This initiative is aimed at improving healthcare services in rural areas, where they are most needed," Dr. Abubakar stated. He emphasized that health professionals would be posted exclusively to rural communities and would not be eligible for transfers during the two-year mandatory service period.
The policy specifically targets healthcare workers who have received educational sponsorship from the state government and is designed to address the persistent shortage of qualified medical personnel in rural healthcare facilities across Sokoto State.
Additional State Projects Approved
Beyond the healthcare initiative, the State Executive Council approved several other development projects during the same meeting. These include:
- Procurement of 120 motorcycles valued at N280.8 million to support security operations across the state
- Allocation of N240 million for the construction of a perimeter fence at Sokoto State University
- Approval of N686.7 million for a 500-seater auditorium at the Sokoto State College for Basic and Remedial Studies
- Earmarking of N300 million for the renovation of the Goronyo and Gada Juma'at mosques
The rural posting policy represents a significant step in Governor Ahmed Aliyu's administration's efforts to address healthcare disparities between urban and rural areas in Sokoto State, potentially creating a model that other Nigerian states might consider adopting to improve healthcare access nationwide.
