Nurses Reject Wage Commission Circular, Decry Exclusion from Key Allowances

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI) has strongly rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), describing it as discriminatory and dismissive of the critical role nurses play in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The circular, numbered SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646 and dated June 27, 2025, is titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service.” It was condemned by the association for excluding nurses from the revised allowances framework.

Speaking after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, NANNM-FHI President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, said the circular overlooked the welfare of nurses, who make up 60 to 70 percent of the healthcare workforce in federal institutions.

“The circular failed to address allowances critical to nurses, including shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, and retention allowances,” Rilwan stated.

He expressed dismay that the circular was issued without consulting the association, despite its wide-reaching impact on the nursing profession.

Key Issues Raised by the Nurses Shift Allowance:

1. Nurses currently receive only 8.5% of salary as shift allowance, despite a 2009 circular approving 30% of basic salary.
2. Uniform Allowance: Given the need to change uniforms multiple times daily, Rilwan emphasized that uniforms are essential and not optional. “At a minimum, we need three uniforms a week,” he said.
3. Specialist Allowance: The association decried the selective application of this allowance, saying it unfairly excludes many specialist nurses.
4. Retention and Call Duty Allowances: Rilwan stressed that these are necessary to curb the rising trend of nurse migration abroad in search of better working conditions.

Additional Demands

1. The NANNM-FHI President also called on the Federal Government to:
2. Reconstitute the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, which has remained inactive for years.
3. Include nurses on the boards of Federal Health Institutions, reflecting their position as the largest segment of the healthcare workforce.
4. Reverse the sidelining of nurse educators (GL 7 and 8) from clinical duties, arguing they are vital to the training of student nurses.
5. Establish a centralized internship system for university-trained nurses to ensure participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
6. Create a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, beyond the existing Director of Nursing role, with directorates for training, statistics, and clinical services.

Warning of Possible Strike

While reiterating the association’s openness to dialogue, Rilwan warned that failure to address these concerns could lead to industrial action.

“Nigeria has the nurses, but we are losing them due to poor welfare and policy neglect,” he emphasized.

The association urged the federal government to treat the matter with urgency, describing the situation as a test of its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and retaining essential personnel.