FG Unveils 5-Year plan to strengthen Nursing, Midwifery with 20,000 fresh recruits
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Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ndagi Alhassan, said the country now produces over 115,000 nurses every year, up from 23,000 in the past. However, he noted that finding jobs for many of these trained professionals
The Federal Government has approved the recruitment and deployment of over 20,000 health workers across public hospitals in Nigeria.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, announced this during the launch of the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery in Abuja. He said 60% of those to be employed will be nurses and midwives, who form the backbone of hospital care.
According to him, the government is investing heavily in the health workforce to close the gap between the number of health workers available and the high demand for healthcare services.
Pate explained that under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) reforms, 69,000 frontline health workers have been retrained in all 36 states. He added that President Bola Tinubu had given approval for waivers to speed up the recruitment process.
The new five-year plan aims to strengthen education, create better career paths, expand leadership opportunities, and retain skilled health professionals in the country.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who attended the event, said the policy provides a clear roadmap to improve the nursing and midwifery professions and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Daju Kachallom, said the plan focuses on four main areas:
Upgrading nursing and midwifery education to meet local and global needs.
Ensuring fair pay and job satisfaction.
Empowering nurses to take leadership roles.
Promoting quality healthcare delivery nationwide.
Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ndagi Alhassan, said the country now produces over 115,000 nurses every year, up from 23,000 in the past. However, he noted that finding jobs for many of these trained professionals remains a challenge.
To address this, the government plans to work with local communities to train and employ nurses who will serve in their hometowns, reducing unemployment and migration.
At the event, Prof. Pate,Senator Banigo, and Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila were recognized as Ambassadors of the Nursing and Midwifery Profession.
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