The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Faruk Abubakar, sparked concern on Tuesday with his statement on ChannelsTV, revealing a significant exodus of nurses from the country. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Abubakar also emphasized ongoing efforts to address their grievances and improve working conditions.
Alarming Numbers:
Abubakar stated that over 42,000 nurses have left Nigeria in the past three years, with the number exceeding 15,000 last year alone. This alarming trend highlights a critical shortage within the healthcare sector, potentially impacting patient care and national well-being.
Government Efforts:
The Registrar acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Minister of State (for health) in creating a more conducive work environment.
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He mentioned the provision of “state-of-the-art equipment and instruments” as a means to improve the quality of care provided by nurses. Additionally, Abubakar promised “a lot has been integrated and provided in 2024” to enhance their welfare, including salary improvements.
General Salary Concerns:
Abubakar downplayed the concerns about salaries, stating that it’s “a general phenomenon” affecting all sectors. He claimed that the government is actively reviewing salaries across various sectors, including nursing. While acknowledging the challenges faced by other sectors, this statement might not resonate with nurses who feel their specific concerns are not adequately addressed.
The statement reads, “42,000 nurses left the country in the last three years. Last year alone, it was over 15,000, the number is increasing year by year.
“The FMoH and the honourable Minister of State (for health) are working hard to ensure a very conducive working environment, with the provision of state-of-art equipment, and instruments, that will help them provide quality care for Nigerians.
“And I want to assure (you) that within a couple of months, a lot has been integrated and provided in 2024 that will improve the welfare of the nurses that we are talking about. When talking about the salary they are talking about, I think it’s a general phenomenon, and I believe it’s a general thing.
“There is a lot of progress that is going on to review the salary and nurses are also included in that policy. I think it’s a general phenomenon, all other sectors are also complaining, and the government is doing a lot.”
