The Registrar of Nursing Council reports that the typical monthly earnings for a nurse amount to N13
On Tuesday, Faruk Abubakar, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, revealed that the average monthly earnings for a nurse in the country are at least N135,000. He made this statement during a discussion on the nurses' certificate verification controversy on the Tuesday edition of Channels Television's Morning Brief.
Nurses, represented by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, staged protests at the NMCN's offices in Abuja and Lagos, expressing dissatisfaction with what they perceived as an attempt to impede their freedom to pursue career opportunities. They urged the council to address issues such as nurses' welfare, salary scale, staff shortages, and other rights.
In response, the NMCN, through its revised guidelines, outlined that applicants seeking certificate verification from foreign nursing boards and councils must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license.
As the sole legal, administrative, corporate, and statutory entity appointed by the Federal Government, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) is entrusted with specific duties. Its primary responsibility is to guarantee the provision of safe and effective nursing and midwifery care to the public through high-quality education and adherence to best practices.
By legal mandate, the council is tasked with regulating the standards of nursing and midwifery education and practice in Nigeria. It is obligated to periodically review these standards to align with the evolving health requirements of society.
During the television program, Abubakar clarified that the council does not oversee the remuneration of nurses in the country. Instead, the responsibility for this lies with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and collaborative efforts with the NANNM are underway to enhance the welfare of nurses.
The matter of remuneration falls outside the purview of the NMCN; it falls under the jurisdiction of the honorable minister of the Ministry of Health. I want to emphasize that, recently, NANNM paid a courtesy visit to the honorable minister, and he has established a committee to address all concerns raised by the national association, including the welfare matters you mentioned.
"An average employed nurse receives a minimum of N135,000, but this figure varies based on their workplace. Some may earn up to N200,000, contingent on whether they work at the national, state, or local government level. That summarizes the information I can provide on the matter.
I must acknowledge the significant efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), which is actively establishing a committee to thoroughly examine the concerns raised by the association on behalf of nurses nationwide. I am confident that this initiative will effectively address both the welfare and remuneration issues being discussed.
It's essential to clarify that determining the remuneration of nurses is not within the council's mandate. The responsibility lies with the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, the body entrusted with determining remuneration nationwide, including that of nurses.
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