FG Increases Nurses’ Uniform Allowance by 300% to N80,000
FG Increases Nurses’ Uniform Allowance by 300% to N80,000
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a significant increase in the annual uniform allowance for nurses under federal employment, raising it from N20,000 to N80,000.
This 300 percent increment was officially authorized by the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission (NSIWC) and is set to take effect from January 1, 2026.
According to a memo signed by the Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, the new allowance will be implemented through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). This move is intended to streamline the payment process and ensure that the allowance is no longer drawn from the overhead budget of individual health institutions.
The approval follows months of agitation by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
In July 2025, the association issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government, citing poor welfare and gross underfunding of their essential needs as reasons for a potential healthcare shutdown.
The leadership of the nurses’ union had previously described the old N20,000 annual rate as “insulting” and insufficient for maintaining professional standards. They argued that nurses are required to change uniforms frequently due to the clinical nature of their work, making the previous stipend negligible in the current economy.
In the official communication addressed to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, the commission stated, “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.”
Beyond the uniform allowance, the nurses had also demanded broader reforms, including the upward review of shift and core duty allowances. They also called for the establishment of a Directorate of Nursing Services at the Federal Ministry of Health to better represent their interests in policy-making.
The memo was copied to several key government officials, including the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
This administrative step marks a victory for healthcare workers who have long complained about the “selective” review of professional allowances in the health sector.
