Upon hearing the recent announcement that the retirement age for nurses in Abia State government-owned hospitals and health agencies is set to increase to 65 years, many nurses have expressed their delight.
During his monthly media chat at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti revealed that the state government plans to raise the retirement age for nurses from 60 to 65 years as part of its commitment to revitalizing the health sector, which is a top priority for the administration.
In response to this news, several nurses shared their thoughts with NewsNow, hailing the decision as a positive step that would help retain experienced nurses within the Abia health system.
One nurse, Nkechi Uwaoma, believes that the extended retirement age will result in better medical services for patients, citing the invaluable expertise that experienced nurses bring to their work and the potential impact on saving lives.
Another nurse, Scholastica Amaechi, commended the decision as a step in the right direction while also urging the state government to correspondingly raise the salaries and allowances of nurses to align with the new retirement age policy.
Similarly, a nurse employed at a government hospital, who preferred to remain anonymous, pointed out that the increase in retirement age could help reduce the number of nurses leaving the state to pursue higher-paying opportunities in foreign countries.
“Three of my colleagues have gone to America or Europe for better wages. I believe that by extending the retirement age, offering competitive salaries, and improving working conditions, we can discourage some nurses from seeking employment abroad,” stated the anonymous nurse.