The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM-FHI), representing federal health institutions, has rejected a recent salary circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), describing it as unjust, discriminatory, and dismissive of the crucial role nurses play in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The circular, marked No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646 and dated 27 June, was titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service.” However, NANNM-FHI said the circular failed to acknowledge or revise any of the key allowances due to nurses.
Following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, NANNM-FHI President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, told journalists that the circular was released without prior consultation or engagement, despite the fact that nurses make up between 60 and 70 percent of the health sector workforce.
Rilwan pointed out that the circular made no mention of shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, or retention allowances, all of which are essential to the professional functioning of nurses. He said nurses work long shifts under intense pressure and spend extended hours caring for patients and their families, yet the current shift allowance remains at only 8.5 percent of basic salary, despite a 2009 circular approving a 30 percent rate.
He further noted that due to the nature of their work, nurses often change uniforms multiple times daily, and the uniform allowance should reflect this practical necessity. Rilwan stressed that uniforms are not optional, and nurses need at least three proper sets per week.
The NANNM-FHI president also criticised the selective implementation of specialist allowances, describing it as unjust and exclusionary. He emphasised that nursing comprises various specialist cadres, such as perioperative, intensive care, and psychiatric nursing, all of which deserve equal treatment and recognition.
He called on the Federal Government to urgently address these concerns and prioritise the retention of trained nurses, many of whom are leaving the country due to poor welfare and lack of professional support.
Rilwan also demanded the immediate reconstitution of the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, which he said has been inactive for years. He argued that nurses, as the majority workforce in hospitals, must be adequately represented on the boards of federal health institutions.
He raised alarm over the exclusion of nurse educators, particularly those on grade levels 7 and 8, from clinical practice despite their crucial role in training student nurses. This, he argued, contradicts other policy guidelines stating that trainers should receive adequate compensation.
The association also called for internship placements for university-trained nurses to enable them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Rilwan proposed a centralised internship system to improve coordination and quality across the country.
He further demanded the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, stating that although a Director of Nursing exists, there is no dedicated structure to handle training, statistics, or clinical standards for the profession.
Rilwan concluded by expressing the association’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Federal Government but warned that if their demands are not addressed, industrial action may follow.
