The National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission has approved an upward review of the uniform allowance for nurses under Federal Government employment, increasing it from N20,000 to N80,000 per annum.

The increase, which represents a 300 percent rise from the previous rate, was announced in a memo sighted by our correspondent on Thursday.

In July 2025, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) described the N20,000 annual uniform allowance as grossly insufficient. The association called for systemic reforms, including the establishment of a Directorate of Nursing Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, to be headed by a registered nurse.

The President of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, told journalists that the approval of the previous allowance was issued without prior consultation with the association, despite its impact on a major segment of healthcare professionals.

In the memo signed by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission, Ekpo Nta, the commission stated that implementation of the new allowance would take effect from January 2026.

The memo was addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate. Copies were also sent to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako.

The memo read:

“Please refer to your letter No. C.2920/S.4/T2/33 dated 17th November 2025 in connection with the above-mentioned subject.

“I hereby convey approval for the implementation of the uniform allowance of N80,000 per annum for nurses in Federal hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in MDAs through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, with effect from 1st January 2026.

“Consequently, the allowance will no longer be paid from the overhead budget in order to streamline payment with other regular allowances payable through IPPIS.”

On July 14, 2025, the nurses’ union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.

Among their demands were an upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a Nursing Department in the Federal Ministry of Health.

At the heart of the protest was the Federal Government’s N20,000 yearly uniform allowance per nurse, which the union described as insulting.

The nurses also revealed that they had been working with inadequate tools and equipment, including insufficient gloves, for several years without adequate support.