Researchers from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka have urged the Enugu State Government to intensify measures aimed at resolving chronic health worker absenteeism within Primary Healthcare Centres across the region. The appeal was made during a stakeholder policy dialogue convened to discuss strategies for bolstering institutional accountability in grassroots medical facilities.
Obinna Onwujekwe, a professor and coordinator of the research team, stated that the engagement brought together key players from the Enugu State Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Agency, community leadership, and media organisations to examine practical ways of improving staff punctuality.
What did the research uncover about absenteeism?
According to findings presented by research associate Pamela Ogbozor, a study conducted between August 2025 and January 2026 across select facilities in Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti, Enugu North, and Nkanu West local government areas revealed significant variations in attendance between intervention sites and control locations. Specifically, 100 percent of personnel in intervention facilities diligently filled out attendance registers, compared to 90 percent in control centres. Furthermore, only 15.4 percent of workers in supported facilities abandoned their shifts prematurely, contrasted with 48 percent in control locations.
The investigation pointed to logistical hurdles such as poor transportation options in remote areas, insufficient facility-level peer support, and a lack of active community supervision as primary drivers of staff truancy. Experts warned that unaddressed absenteeism severely compromises patient outcomes, increasing the risk of medical complications and avoidable fatalities.
How can the government address these challenges?
Mr Onwujekwe recommended a combination of targeted interventions, including transit subsidies for personnel deployed to isolated settlements, improved internal administrative backstopping, and stronger community oversight. He commended Governor Peter Mbah’s administration for investing heavily in physical infrastructure and introducing electronic clock-in registers, but stressed that technological monitoring alone is insufficient without holistic support systems.
Representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission , Stephen Obi noted that truancy often correlates with ghost worker syndicates, describing the twin issues as major impediments to efficient public service delivery. Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that translating these empirical findings into actionable policies will ensure that public health investments yield maximum benefits for residents.