to retire at the age of 65 or after 40 years of service
By Frank Ulom
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Published on July 28, 2026
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2 min read
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has approved the implementation of a retirement policy allowing health workers in the state to retire at the age of 65 or after 40 years of service, a move aimed at addressing manpower shortages in the healthcare sector.
The approval, announced by the Office of the Head of Service, is expected to help tackle the growing shortage of nurses and other health professionals caused by mass retirements recorded in recent years.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, Dr Coco-Bassey Esu, described the decision as timely, noting that many health facilities across the state faced the risk of severe understaffing without the intervention.
According to him, the approval reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s healthcare system while ensuring that experienced professionals continue to contribute to service delivery.
“This people-first decision by His Excellency will enable our experienced nurses and health workers to remain in service as mentors to guide younger professionals, fill existing workforce gaps, and ensure continuity in healthcare delivery and professional growth,” Esu said.
He added that the policy would not only preserve institutional knowledge within the health sector but also enhance professional development by allowing experienced personnel to mentor younger colleagues.
Esu described the approval as another demonstration of Governor Otu’s commitment to improving healthcare under his administration’s “People First” agenda.
He assured that the Office of the Special Assistant on Nursing would collaborate closely with the Cross River State Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of the policy.
The Special Assistant noted that the extension of the retirement age is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state by retaining skilled and experienced personnel in public health facilities.
The approval has been welcomed by nurses and other health workers across Cross River State, with many describing it as a significant step towards addressing workforce shortages and improving access to quality healthcare for residents.
