Nurses demand separate salary structure

• as lawmakers halt NMCN’s new certificate verification guidelines

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called for  a separate salary package, the Enhanced Nurses Salary Structure (ENSS), for its members to address the current mass migration of nurses and midwives from the country,

The association made the demand while marking the International Nurses and Midwives; Day on Tuesday in Abuja saying the salary package  would motivate nurses and midwives in the country to reduce migration out of the country.

The NANNM’s demand came just as the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) not to implement its revised guidelines for issuing verification certificates to nurses and midwives in the country.

The association had condemned the guidelines especially the  provision which mandates a nurse seeking NMCN certification to have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience.

They are also opposed to the requirement that a nurse applying for NMCN’s certification must obtain a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of their place of work and the last training institution attended while the processing of application shall take a minimum of six months.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the International Nurses and Midwives Day, the national president of the association, Michael Ekuma Nnachi, said the leadership of the association had held a series of meetings with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) about the guidelines. This, he said has resulted in some review saying the issue of letter of good standing is to be handled by the head of nursing services of respective facilities while the issue of verification for six months was stepped down.

He said that the application fee remains status quo ante, while the two years post-qualification experience is now to be post-registration with the council.

“All the agreed reviewed guidelines will be uploaded on the council’s portal from the first week of March 2024,” he added.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has mandated its committees on Health Institutions and Legislative Compliance to investigate the controversy surrounding the revised guidelines and report to the house within six weeks.