The Growing Crisis in Nigeria’s Nursing Sector
The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Ndagi Alhassan, has highlighted a critical issue affecting the healthcare system: many states in the country are employing fewer than 100 nurses annually, despite a growing shortage of healthcare workers. This alarming trend is exacerbating the already heavy workload on existing nursing professionals, who are struggling with long hours, poor welfare conditions, and a rising rate of brain drain.
Alhassan emphasized that the limited recruitment of nurses is making it increasingly difficult for the healthcare system to meet the demand for quality medical services. He described the situation as deeply concerning, noting that the lack of job opportunities at the state level undermines both service delivery and workforce morale. The problem, he argued, is not the production of nurses but their employment.
A System in Need of Reform
According to Alhassan, Nigeria produces thousands of nurses every year, yet many graduates remain unemployed or end up working in private facilities instead of public health institutions. This gap in employment is contributing to burnout among existing staff and weakening the ability of the health system to provide adequate care, especially in rural and underserved communities.
He pointed out that the government must take responsibility for addressing this issue by employing more nursing graduates. “If you examine the employment statistics from all states and teaching hospitals over the last three years, it’s a very poor record,” he said. “In fact, some states barely employ up to 100 nurses in the whole state yearly.”
This challenge was recently brought to the forefront when nurses across the country embarked on a nationwide strike. The industrial action, which lasted four days, disrupted medical services in hospitals across Nigeria. The strike was called off after negotiations between the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and the Federal Government.
Demands and Responses
The nurses’ union raised several key demands during the strike, including an upward review of shift allowances, adjustments to uniform allowances, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
In response, the government pledged to gazette the long-awaited nurses’ scheme of service within four weeks. This document outlines career structures, qualifications, and progression pathways for public servants, including nurses. The pledge was part of a Memorandum of Understanding reached during a conciliation meeting involving government officials and union leaders.
Despite these efforts, Alhassan stressed that unemployment remains the primary challenge facing the nursing profession in Nigeria. “Nurses are not being employed,” he said. “We have created programs like the Community Nursing and Community Midwifery initiative to encourage graduates to serve in remote areas. However, even after training, they are often not hired by local governments.”
Addressing the Root Causes
To tackle the issue, Alhassan mentioned that the council has taken steps to expand training institutions and increase the number of index admissions. The average annual intake into nursing programs is now around 115,000, with both colleges and universities participating in the process.
However, he emphasized that the government must focus on three main areas: employment, better working conditions, and improved remuneration. Additionally, he highlighted the need for ongoing training and retraining to ensure that nurses can adapt to emerging challenges, such as emergency preparedness and maternal mortality.
Alhassan also pointed to the importance of reforms, including the implementation of Advanced Nursing Practice and the Doctorate of Nursing. These proposals have been submitted to the government, but no concrete action has been taken yet.
A Call for Continued Investment
The council has also introduced Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programmes to help nurses stay updated on new knowledge and skills. These programs cover a range of topics, including mental health and emergency preparedness.
Despite these initiatives, Alhassan stressed that the government needs to provide more support for training and development. “When people apply for training, they should be supported to develop their careers while serving,” he said. “But due to the inadequate number of nurses, even releasing them for training is a problem.”
Ultimately, he believes that greater engagement and investment in the nursing sector are essential to maintaining a strong and resilient healthcare system. “We need sufficient funding for continuous development and targeted service delivery,” he concluded.
