By Hassam Zaggi
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), has appealed to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to create what they describe as a separate salary structure for nurses and midwives as a motivation to reduce the migration of nurses from the country.
The President of NANNM, Nurse Michael Nnachi, made the call when briefing journalists at the induction ceremony of newly elected state officials, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The separate salary packaged, according to him, is to be called Enhanced Nurse Salary Structure (ENSS).
The President also called on the government to appoint nurses and midwives into key positions as well as members of Federal Boards of federal government establishments in order to address extreme marginalization in the governance structure of the health facilities in Nigeria.
They also called on the Federal Ministry of Health to approve the elongation of retirement of recruitment age of Nurses from 60 – 65 years to improve on available workforce in the clinical and educational institutions in the country.
The Nurses and Midwives also advocated for massive employment of nurses and midwives in federal health institutions as there is huge shortage of personnel; establishment of full-fledged Department of Nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health and appointment of a Director of Nursing Service who reports directly to the Permanent Secretary; and the implementation of Abuja declaration 2020 – Government to implement the 15% of the National Budget as recommended by Abuja declaration, 2020.
Nurses Nnachi also called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, provide and replace dilapidated equipment in all tertiary hospitals in the country to meet the health care needs of patients through quality care.
Other request by the nurses and midwives include upward Review / Implementation of peculiar professional allowances, payment of 25% CONHESS adjustment; and that the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to urgently objectively implement government approved policy replacement circulars by replacement of appropriate Cadre of Nurses due to brain drain syndrome as directed by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
They also called for the provision of security and safety for nurses and midwives in all parts of the country and urged the government to implement the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) judgment 2012.
Nurse Nnachi categorically stated that the leadership of nurses and midwives were not carried along nor consulted prior to the release of the circular for the review of the verification guidelines and requirements.
He disclosed that after due consultation with the leadership of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the grey areas were resolved amicably.
Speaking while declaring the induction ceremony open, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachalum, said that the ministry recognizes and appreciates the important role played by nurses and midwives in Nigeria’s health sector.
She disclosed that: “In support of the Nursing profession in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and Socia] Welfare has adopted the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025 and is working assiduously on the accompanying resolution of the four pillars which are education, job creation, leadership and service delivery as they all need attention mostly in the developing countries like Nigeria. “
Represented by the Director of Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dame Francisca Okafor, the Permanent Secretary charged the nurses to align with the “Minister’s Four Point Agenda, which are: to improve governance, improve population health outcomes, unlock healthcare value chain and health security,”
