NIGERIA, UYO – The Akwa Ibom State Government has invited retired medical professionals for contract appointments, raising concerns about fairness and the exclusion of young graduates seeking entry into public service.
In a press release dated September 17, 2025, the Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, announced vacancies for consultants, specialists, officers, pharmacists, nurses, and laboratory scientists on contract terms.
Essien explained that the appointments target experts who retired between January 1, 2015, and now, stressing they are “highly skilled, fit and willing” to help tackle the declared health emergency.
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The policy aligns with Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, designed to strengthen healthcare delivery. Officials argue rehiring retirees ensures immediate capacity, since experienced hands require less training and adjustment to public service protocols.
Critics, however, question the ethical implications of bypassing unemployed graduates. “This decision favors a closed circle of retirees while thousands of qualified young professionals remain jobless,” said a health policy analyst in Uyo.
Some stakeholders argue that situational ethics should guide policy. “While emergencies demand quick fixes, justice demands opportunities for new entrants,” noted Dr. Anietie Ekpenyong, a lecturer in medical ethics at the University of Uyo.
Graduate nurses and doctors have protested quietly online. One pharmacist wrote, “We spent years studying, yet the government prefers those who already earned salaries and pensions. Where is our future in this state?”
Civil society groups warn the policy could fuel frustration among youths. “If government recycles workers, it signals that hard work and education do not guarantee public service opportunities,” said the Akwa Ibom Youth Alliance in a statement.
Experts suggest a middle ground. Retirees could serve as trainers or mentors, while new graduates take frontline jobs. Such a blend, they argue, balances efficiency with fairness in recruitment.
The controversy highlights a governance dilemma: balancing immediate service needs with long-term equity. As applications open, the debate will test the government’s ethical standing and its commitment to inclusive employment.
