FG promises legal protection, regular salaries for community health workers
The federal government has pledged to guarantee legal recognition, job security and regular salaries for community health workers as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima said community health workers played a critical role in detecting disease outbreaks, improving access to medical services and reducing preventable deaths, particularly in underserved communities.
He spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030 during the Continental High-Level Forum on a Fit-for-Purpose Health Workforce.
Shettima said Nigeria could not afford to neglect the welfare of community health workers, stressing that their contributions were essential to achieving universal health coverage and strengthening the country’s health security.
“We cannot afford the luxury of taking our community health workers for granted,” he said.
According to him, the continental plan focuses on governance, primary healthcare integration, workforce development, digital systems, service delivery, financing, medical supplies and accountability.
He said the initiative was designed to ensure that community health workers received the recognition, remuneration and professional support required to deliver effective services.
“A future where workers are guaranteed legal recognition, certification, dependable salaries, supervision and careers,” Shettima said.
