The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI), has vehemently rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) concerning the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service. The circular, dated June 27, 2025, failed to include nurses in key allowance revisions, sparking outrage among the nursing community.
At an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja, NANNM-FHI described the circular as unfair and dismissive of the critical role nurses play, given that they constitute between 60 and 70 percent of the healthcare workforce. The association’s president, Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, highlighted that the circular excluded essential allowances such as shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, and retention allowances.
Rilwan stressed that nurses work intensive shifts, often spending extended hours with patients, yet their current shift allowance stands at only 8.5 percent of their salary, far below the 30 percent approved in a 2009 circular. He also pointed out the unfairness in the selective application of specialist allowances, noting that many nurses hold specialist qualifications deserving equal recognition.
The association further criticized the lack of consultation prior to issuing the circular and called for urgent government engagement to address their welfare concerns. NANNM-FHI also demanded the reconstitution of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s governing board and inclusion of nurses in policymaking bodies within federal health institutions.
In a strong warning, the association issued a 15-day ultimatum starting July 14, 2025, for the federal government to revisit the circular and engage in meaningful dialogue. Failure to meet their demands will lead to a nationwide seven-day warning strike by nurses and midwives.
Despite their grievances, the nurses reaffirmed their commitment to delivering quality healthcare but emphasized that such dedication cannot be sustained under conditions of neglect and poor welfare.
This rejection and looming strike underscore growing tensions between Nigerian nurses and the government, highlighting urgent calls for fair treatment and recognition of healthcare workers’ contributions to the nation’s health system.