The Federal Government has approved the creation of two new cadres for paramedical personnel in Nigeria’s public service, a move expected to improve career opportunities and professional recognition for workers in the sector.
The approval was granted by the National Council on Establishments (NCE) during its 48th meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from July 20 to 24, 2026.
The meeting was chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and attended by Heads of Service from 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Permanent Secretaries and other senior public servants.
Two New Cadres Approved. Among the resolutions reached at the meeting was the approval for the inclusion of the Paramedic Assistant Cadre and Paramedic Technician Cadre in the Schemes of Service.
Under the approved structure, the Paramedic Assistant Cadre will operate between Salary Grade Levels 04 and 07, while the Paramedic Technician Cadre will cover Salary Grade Levels 06 to 14.
The Council also adopted a Harmonised Entry Point Framework to guide entry into various public service cadres.
The decision is expected to provide paramedical workers with clearer career pathways, structured recruitment opportunities and defined progression within the public service.
Move To Strengthen Health Workforce. The creation of the cadres formally recognises paramedical services as a distinct career path within the public sector and could address longstanding concerns over the absence of clearly defined structures for workers in the field.
The development also aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce and address manpower shortages across the healthcare system.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under Coordinating Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has repeatedly identified workforce development as a key component of Nigeria’s health sector reform agenda.
The new cadres could therefore provide additional institutional support for emergency and front-line healthcare delivery, particularly in communities facing shortages of skilled health personnel.
Approval Followed Manpower Assessment. The NCE said the decision was reached against the backdrop of a Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis being conducted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The exercise is intended to assess existing manpower levels and identify critical skills shortages across the public service.
The findings will guide future consideration of requests for the creation of additional cadres.
Five other requests for new cadres were reportedly stepped down pending the outcome of the ongoing personnel audit, indicating that the approval of the two paramedic cadres followed a specific assessment of workforce needs.
Stakeholders Welcome Development. The establishment of the new cadres is expected to bring greater professional recognition to paramedical personnel who have long advocated for a clearly defined place within Nigeria’s public service structure.
It could also provide opportunities for structured employment, career advancement and improved remuneration for qualified paramedic assistants and technicians.
The development has further drawn attention to the role of Dr Emuren Doubra, who heads the NEMSAS Programme, with stakeholders commending his experience and leadership in the field.
As implementation begins across relevant federal and state institutions, attention will now turn to how quickly the new cadres are incorporated into recruitment, promotion and remuneration structures.
The reform is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improving the availability of emergency and front-line medical support across the country.
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