The Federal Government has promised to gazette the much-anticipated Nurses’ Scheme of Service within the next four weeks.
The FG also promised to direct the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to establish procedures for the central placement of nurses for internships.
These steps are intended to fulfil important requests of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, specifically those concerning career advancement, welfare, and internship placements.
This resolution was part of a Memorandum of Understanding reached at the conclusion of a conciliation conference conducted on Friday, which was organised by the Minister of Labour and Employment and attended by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and the leadership of NANNM.
On Wednesday, nurses and midwives began a seven-day warning strike to demand the gazetting of the Nurses’ Scheme of Service and an increase in shift allowances. However, the strike was called off on Saturday when an agreement was made between the group and the federal government.
Our correspondent obtained the MoU on Sunday, which was signed by the President of NANNM, Haruna Mamman, the General Secretary of NANNM, T. A. Shettima, the Director of Human Resources at the FMoH, Dafeta T. Tetshoma, and the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Falonipe Amos.
The Nurses’ Scheme of Service, which was originally approved by the National Council on Establishments in 2016, has been gazetted in Minna, Niger state.
It is a document that outlines the career structure, qualifications, job descriptions, and progression pathways for Nigerian public servants, including nurses and other professionals.
According to the MoU, “The association was assured that the Scheme of Service shall be gazetted. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has already written to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the need to get the Scheme of Service gazetted. The Director of Nursing of the FMOH&SW and the office of the Secretary General NANNM are to follow up with the Head of Service and the Federal Government Printer and ensure that the gazetting is done within four weeks.”
In addition to the gazetting process, the MoU highlighted other resolutions, such as the implementation of the National Industrial Court’s decision to establish a Department of Nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health.
It was decided that the subject be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for interpretation and compliance with the NICN judgement.
On professional allowances, which includes shift duty allowance for Nurses at 30 per cent consolidated; 20 per cent specialist allowance for all specialist Nurses per annum; upward review of uniform allowance to N300,000 three per annum; upward review of call duty allowance for Nurses at four per cent consolidated; payment of 35 per cent teaching allowance to all Nurses; payment of peculiar excess workload and burnout allowance to Nurses; and payment of retention allowance to Nurses in order to mitigate brain drain, it was agreed that the Ministry of Health will discuss separately with each of the major blocks of the health professional unions on the proposals, along with NSIWC, FMF, Budget Office, HCSF and FML&E, to agree on the way forward within two weeks.
On centralisation of internship placement for graduate nurses, “It was agreed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare immediately direct the Nursing Council to put in place modalities for central placement of nurses for internship as done for others. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is to complete the ongoing process of centralising placement, as done for other professional groups, taking into account the needs of states to avoid concentration in Abuja and Lagos.
Other resolutions include “Fair Representation of NANNM in the Board of Tertiary Health Institutions: The Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare assured the union that the Ministry would be fair and just to the nurses in the appointment of the boards of the tertiary health institutions in line with acts establishing the institutions. A letter has been sent to that effect.
“Demand for Nursing and Midwives Consultancy: The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare explained that the most important issue is to define clearly the roles and responsibilities of all health professionals vis-à-vis care of the patient. This will require internal discussions led by the ministry along with all relevant professional top-columnist groups.
“Constitution of the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria: The FMOH&SW assured that the statutory Council will be constituted as soon as possible.
“Employment of nursing personnel and adequate provision of health facility equipment: The Federal Ministry of Health had granted waivers for employment of over 14,000 workers in the sector in 2024, with nurses constituting about 60 percent. Recruitment for 2024 is completed. The process for issuing waivers for 2025 has commenced.
