The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI), has rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

The association called it unfair and dismissive of the role of nurses in federal health institutions.

The circular, No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27 and titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service,” was criticised for excluding nurses from key allowance revisions.

Rising from an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the association said the circular failed to recognise the important contributions of nurses, who account for between 60 and 70 per cent of the healthcare workforce.

NANNM-FHI President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, told journalists that the circular was issued without prior consultation with the association, in spite of its impact on a major segment of healthcare professionals.

He said the document did not address critical allowances due to nurses, including shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, and retention allowances.

“Nurses run intensive shifts, spending extended hours with patients and their relatives. Yet, our current shift allowance is just 8.5 per cent of our salary, despite a 2009 circular approving 30 per cent of basic salary,” Rilwan said.

He added that nurses are required to change uniforms multiple times daily due to the nature of their duties, stressing that uniform allowance should reflect this reality.

“Uniforms are essential, not optional. At a minimum, we need three uniforms a week,” he said.

Rilwan said the selective application of the specialist allowance was discriminatory and unfair to nurses with specialist qualifications.

He noted that nursing includes several specialist cadres who deserve equal treatment.

He called on the Federal Government to prioritise the retention of trained nurses, who are increasingly migrating abroad in search of better conditions

“Nigeria has the nurses, but we are losing them due to poor welfare and policy neglect,” he said.

Rilwan also urged the government to reconstitute the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, saying it had remained dormant for years.

He added that nurses must also be included in the boards of Federal Health Institutions, as they represent the largest workforce in the sector.

He expressed concern over the removal of nurse educators, especially those on grade levels 7 and 8, from clinical duties, in spite of their role in training student nurses.

“The same circular states that trainers should be paid. Yet, those training others are being sidelined,” he said.

The NANNM-FHI president further demanded internship placements for university-trained nurses to enable them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), recommending a centralised system to ensure uniformity and quality.

He also called for the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health.

“While we have a Director of Nursing, there is no actual department. There should be directorates for training, statistics, and clinical practice within that framework,” he said.

Rilwan said the association was open to engagement and dialogue with the government and would allow time for an appropriate response.

However, he warned that failure to act could lead to industrial action.

The Lagos State Government has vowed to begin the enforcement of compulsory health insurance policy for residents.

A Thursday statement noted that the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Emmanuel Zamba, said the enforcement would begin in earnest in early 2026, in line with the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in July 2025.

She made this known at the Ilera Eko Providers Forum held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, where key stakeholders across the health insurance value chain, including healthcare providers, health maintenance organisations, and technical partners, gathered to review progress and discuss future implementation strategies.

The order mandates that residents must show evidence of enrolment in a health insurance scheme before accessing public health services, excluding emergencies.

‘We want all residents to be aware and onboard before enforcement begins’, the permanent secretary said, urging residents to embrace the scheme as a financial protection tool.

‘We are finalising our emergency services programme to ensure that no Lagos resident is denied urgent care’.

‘People in emergencies must be treated without first presenting an insurance ID’, Zamba added.

To further strengthen identity management and prevent fraud, Zamba disclosed that LASHMA had partnered with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency to roll out biometric card readers across health facilities.

‘This will eliminate impersonation and ensure only genuine enrollees benefit from the scheme’, she said.

He also highlighted the agency’s expansion into diagnostics, telemedicine, and virtual care initiatives designed to extend access to remote and underserved populations.

‘Even if there is no facility near you, you can dial a toll-free number or use our app for a live consultation with a doctor, 24/7.

‘We have also installed virtual booths in marketplaces to provide health education and consultation services on the go’ he explained.

The Ilera Eko Providers Forum, according to Zamba, is not just a platform for information dissemination but a critical feedback mechanism.

He announced that LASHMA would now host quarterly provider engagement meetings to receive and act on feedback from partners, with a view to improving the scheme’s responsiveness.

‘This is a partnership, and like all successful partnerships, it must be mutually beneficial. We are here to listen, dialogue, and find lasting solutions together’, he said.

The permanent secretary noted that the state currently has over 865 accredited providers, ranging from primary healthcare facilities to specialists in dental and eye care, as well as community pharmacies.

‘Healthcare providers are now the gatekeepers of our scheme’, Zamba said, adding: ‘We are training them not just to offer care but to enrol clients right at their facilities as part of our broader strategy to drive up enrolment figures’.

Zamba revealed that over 400 providers had so far been trained under the newly established Ilera Eko Academy, a platform aimed at equipping providers with the tools and knowledge to actively support enrollment and implementation efforts.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to regulate and curb the activities of unqualified practitioners in aesthetic medicine,skincare.

The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed this while speaking at the 19th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD).Travel packages

“We all know that there is an explosion in aesthetic dermatology around the world and it is not peculiar to Lagos.

“As a government, we are very concerned about this trend of unqualified people masquerading themselves as experts in aesthetic dermatology which focuses on skincare.

“These quacks administer a whole lot of treatment options that can be dangerous.

“And so, the regulatory arm of the ministry, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, is looking into this exploding phenomenal in Lagos.

“We want to work with NAD who are experts to define the limitations of these quacks and ensure they are under close scrutiny by government to ensure residents are not exposed to quackery,” he said