NURSES HAIL ABIA GOVTS PLAN TO INCREASE RETIREMENT AGE. (PHOTO).

 Nurses hail Abia govt’s plan to increase retirement age

Some nurses working in Abia State government-owned hospitals and other health agencies have expressed their joy at the recent announcement that their retirement age would be increased to 65 years.

Governor Alex Otti had during his monthly media chat on Friday at the Government House, Umuahia, said that the state government will soon increase the retirement age of nurses in the state from the present 60 to 65 years.

According to the Governor, the measure was part of his administration’s resolve to revamp the health sector which forms one of the priority areas of his administration.

Reacting to the development, some nurses who spoke to newsmen over the weekend described it as a welcome development, saying that it would retain experienced nurses in the Abia health system.

To Nkechi Uwaoma, “the new retirement age would ensure that patients get better medical service from experienced hands”, adding that more lives would be saved.

Another nurse, Scholastica Amaechi said: “It is a good decision in the right direction but I also appeal to the state government to accordingly increase the salaries and allowances of nurses.”

In her own reaction, a nurse working in one of the government hospitals, who pleaded anonymity, said the new retirement age policy can help in reducing the number of nurses traveling out of the state to foreign countries in search of better jobs.

“Three of my colleagues have either traveled to America or Europe to get better pay and I think that the increase in retirement age, attractive salaries and nice working environment can slow down the ‘JAPA train’ and discourage some of us from joining them there,” said the nurse who maintained anonymity.