Temporary hospital workers, popularly known as “daily rated staff,” at the Specialist Hospital in Yola have expressed concern over the hardship they are facing after the Adamawa State Government suspended them from work.
According to the affected workers, the decision has left many of them in difficult living conditions.
The temporary workers at the Yola Specialist Hospital said some of them had spent more than ten years working at the facility without being formally confirmed as permanent staff, only to be unexpectedly suspended at the beginning of this year.
One of the affected workers, who spoke anonymously during a telephone interview, described the situation as devastating and appealed to the government to reconsider its decision.
Even before the latest development, the Specialist Hospital in Yola had reportedly been facing a shortage of staff.
However, the Adamawa State Government said the suspension of the temporary workers was not connected to the recruitment of new employees recently carried out across the state.
The Commissioner for Health in Adamawa State, Chief Felix Tangwami, explained the government’s position.
“If you are a daily or temporary worker, the government can lay you off at any time.” He said.
Recently, about 300 workers were recruited, but many of them were not from Adamawa State. Most of those employed were specialist officers, leaving out many qualified local professionals.
“We also know that there are other capable professionals who have been employed and are still waiting for proper placement.
Some of them remain in their units even when there are vacancies, yet they are not being fully engaged.” He added
“Each unit has its structure, and it is not the responsibility of individuals alone.
It is the duty of the Health Management Board to employ and properly assign staff.
Although new staff have been recruited, the situation remains troubling.” The commissioner submitted
Meanwhile, some civil society activists in Adamawa State have begun calling on the government to ensure fairness and justice for the suspended temporary workers.
Comrade Hamza Abdulsalam, a social activist in the state, urged the authorities to review the matter.
“Despite employing capable individuals, there are still challenges in job allocation and utilization. If the government cannot effectively support the health authorities, then what is the main cause of the problem” He stated.
For now, the suspended temporary workers at the Specialist Hospital remain hopeful that the Adamawa State Government will revisit their case and provide a favourable resolution.
