Taraba Express

Update: Taraba Recruits Nurses, Midwives, Over 4,000 Applicants Jostle For 550 Slots.

Taraba State government has begun the screening and interview of over 4,000 applicants seeking employment as nurses and midwives in the state.

The exercise, being conducted by the Taraba State Health Service Management Board at its headquarters in Jalingo, is aimed at recruiting qualified health professionals to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state’s public health facilities.

The executive secretary of the board, Dr Garba Danjuma, said over 4,000 applications were received through the recruitment portal, although the state government approved only 550 positions.

Danjuma explained that the recruitment process was designed to identify and select competent professionals capable of filling critical manpower gaps in the health sector.

According to him, applicants are being subjected to professional and competency-based assessments to ensure that only qualified candidates are considered for employment.

“We received over 4,000 applications after opening the recruitment portal for nurses and midwives.

“However, the state government approved only 550 positions. Our responsibility is to ensure that only qualified and competent personnel are recruited into the service,” he said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya G. Buma, who monitored the exercise, said the recruitment drive reflects the commitment of Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration to revitalising the state’s healthcare system.

He assured applicants that the process would be transparent, fair and merit-driven, stressing that competence and professionalism would remain the key criteria for the selection.

“This administration is committed to improving healthcare delivery across Taraba State. The recruitment exercise will be conducted strictly on merit without favoritism or undue influence,” Dr. Buma stated.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Health Service Management Board, Dr. Ebenezer Apake, said the exercise, expected to last between two and three days, is focused mainly on recruiting nurses and midwives to address personnel shortages in health facilities.

He noted that, successful candidates would be recommended for employment upon completion of the screening process and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to staff welfare and career advancement.

Apake also assured workers that regular promotion exercises would continue, as the matter was discussed during the Board’s 39th meeting.

He said, the exercise was part of the Taraba State Government’s broader effort to strengthen the health sector by improving staffing levels and expanding access to quality healthcare services across the state.

UPDATE: Nyameh laments rising insecurity in Taraba

The Accord Party gubernatorial candidate, Professor Jerome Nyameh, has expressed concern over the rising cases of killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property in parts of Karim Lamido local government council of the state, describing the situation as disturbing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nyameh said the persistent violence has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that threatens the well-being and progress of affected communities.

He condemned the attacks as barbaric and called for their immediate cessation, stressing that the continued loss of innocent lives and livelihoods is unacceptable.

Nyameh urged the government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and security agencies to work together in developing more effective strategies to tackle the growing insecurity in the area.

According to him, with the farming season approaching, residents should be focusing on agricultural activities rather than fleeing for safety. He emphasized the need for farmers to return to their farmlands with confidence, assured that their lives and property are adequately protected.

The Accord candidate further noted that security remains a fundamental right of every citizen and called for equal protection for all residents of Taraba state, regardless of tribe, religion, political affiliation, or location.

He appealed for immediate and decisive action to restore peace and stability in the affected communities, insisting that the time to address the security challenges is now.

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NEWS UPDATE: The Taraba State Government has approved the reinstatement of over 3,000 unpaid civil servants who had reportedly gone without salaries for more than one year.

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has approved the immediate reissuance of appointment letters to over 3,000 civil servants earlier identified as ghost workers, a development expected to end more than one year of unpaid salaries and uncertainty for the affected staff.

The approval was granted during the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Addressing journalists in Jalingo on Wednesday, the Head of Service, Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, confirmed that the affected workers would now be fully reintegrated into the state civil service.

He explained that the decision followed concerns over the hardship experienced by workers affected by the staff verification exercise that previously removed them from the payroll after being labelled ghost workers.

According to findings, many of the workers faced severe financial difficulties during the period, including challenges in catering for their families, paying school fees, and meeting other essential needs.

The announcement has been widely welcomed across the state, especially by the affected workers and their relatives, with many describing the development as a timely intervention ahead of the Sallah festivities.

Residents and labour stakeholders also praised the administration, noting that the move represents one of the most impactful steps taken in recent years to address issues within the state civil service.

Meanwhile, Governor Kefas has equally approved plans for another round of recruitment into the state workforce.

Dr. Kara disclosed that the governor directed the Office of the Head of Service to collaborate with the Taraba State Civil Service Commission in recruiting 1,800 additional workers into the service.

He noted that the recruitment exercise is expected to correct federal character disparities believed to have been ignored in previous employment exercises.

Observers say both the reinstatement of the affected workers and the planned recruitment exercise could boost economic activities and improve social welfare across the state.

T.Y Danjuma’s Nephew Joins Taraba Guber Race, Promises to Unlock State’s Economic Potential

Mr. Dinshiya Usman, a nephew of former Defence Minister and elder statesman Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, has declared his intention to contest the Taraba State governorship election under the Turaki-backed Peoples Democratic Party.

Usman, who previously served as the Taraba State Coordinator of the North East Development Commission, formally announced his ambition on Wednesday while meeting with party leaders in Jalingo. According to him, the decision followed consultations with political stakeholders, community representatives, and traditional rulers across the state.

During his address at the party secretariat, the governorship aspirant outlined plans to transform Taraba’s economy and pursue policies aimed at long-term development if entrusted with leadership.

He also said his administration would prioritize renewable energy initiatives to provide electricity to rural communities and stimulate economic activities.

“Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude, a deep sense of responsibility, and an unwavering belief in the greatness of our beloved state.

“Taraba is blessed beyond measure. We are blessed with rich agricultural land; over four million hectares of arable land, of which only about one million has ever been cultivated.

“We have major rivers like the Benue, Taraba, Katsina Ala and Nwonyo Ox Bow Lake, abundant mineral resources, 42 diverse occurrences in commercial quantity, breathtaking tourist attractions, diverse cultures, hardworking men, women and talented youths.

“In the face of these overwhelming blessings, majority of our people continue to struggle and live in abject poverty.

“Too many young people remain unemployed, farmers lack the support they need to thrive, many roads remain deplorable and impassable, many healthcare facilities are crumbling and neglected, businesses are struggling to survive.

“If elected, I will harness all these God-given blessings to unlock the economic growth of our state to accelerate all round development, as well as harness the renewable energy opportunities to power rural communities, support businesses and improve livelihoods.

“I will unlock the enormous tourism potential of Taraba and position our state as a destination of choice for visitors, investors, and development partners.

“Above all, I will preserve and strengthen the peace that remains the foundation of our collective progress,” he said.

Usman further pledged to improve the education sector through better support for teachers and wider access to technology to prepare young people for a rapidly evolving world.

He urged residents of the state to support his vision of moving Taraba beyond what he described as years of unrealized promises and underdevelopment.

In a related development, the faction of the PDP aligned with Nyesom Wike has confirmed Emmanuel Bwacha as its preferred governorship candidate.

The confirmation event took place in Jalingo on Monday and was witnessed by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as political stakeholders from different parts of the state.

Update: Bwacha Pledges Inclusive Leadership, Economic Growth For Taraba

According to him, sustained investment in skills acquisition and empowerment programmes would reduce unemployment and harness the energy of young people for economic growth.

“The youth constitute the bulk of our population and we cannot take their energy for granted. If we create opportunities for skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, they will become productive and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” he said.

On the economy, Bwacha described Taraba’s economic situation as “dormant,” lamenting what he called capital flight, poor industrial growth, and overdependence on federal allocations.

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