The Federal Government has approved an increase in the annual uniform allowance for nurses in its employment, raising it from N20,000 to N80,000.
The adjustment, approved by the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission, represents a 300 per cent rise from the previous amount and will take effect from January 2026.
Details of the approval were contained in an official memo issued by the commission and addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, with copies sent to key government officials, including the ministers of finance and budget and national planning, as well as the minister of state for health.
According to the memo signed by the NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, the allowance will now be paid through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System to align it with other regular allowances.
The decision follows sustained agitation by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, which had repeatedly described the previous N20,000 annual provision as inadequate and out of touch with current economic realities.
The union had, in 2025, demanded sweeping reforms in the health sector, including a review of shift allowances, improved duty allowances, a dedicated salary structure for nurses, increased recruitment, and the creation of a Directorate of Nursing Services at the Federal Ministry of Health to be led by a professional nurse.
At one point, the association issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning of possible disruption of healthcare services if their concerns were not addressed.
Beyond the uniform allowance, nurses also raised concerns about long-standing operational challenges, including shortages of basic medical supplies and equipment, which they said had affected their work over the years.
The new allowance is expected to provide some relief to nurses in federal hospitals, medical centres, and clinics, even as broader negotiations on welfare and sector reforms continue.
