Brain drain: NLC charges FG on nurses, midwives’ welfare

The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has enjoined the Federal Government to increase investment in the welfare and working conditions of nurses and midwives.

He made the call in Abuja yesterday during the commemoration of the International Nurses/Midwives Week and scientific conference organised by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

He said doing so would boost their work and reduce brain drain.

Wabba advised nurses and midwives in the country not to relent in their efforts for quality health service delivery.

The President of NANNM, Michael Nnachi, said the country would not achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without government’s increased investment in nurses and midwives.

While calling on the government to employ more nurses and midwives, he said there was urgent need to improve the welfare package of nurses in the country.

He noted that the work environment accounts for the massive brain drain in the country.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Tanko Sununu, decried the poor hazard allowance for health workers.

He said: “I quite believe that nurses and other health workers in the country have made a lot of sacrifices.

“The N5,000 hazard allowance is not acceptable. The House has championed the review of that allowance and we have agreed with the executive to liaise with the union so that we can have acceptable allowance”.