Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos chapter, has raised alarm over the rise in nursing quackery in the state, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance.
Speaking at the Nurses Summit commemorating International Midwives Day and Nurses Week, Chairperson Christianah Adeboboye decried the increasing impersonation of trained nurses, which she said endangers public health and tarnishes the profession’s image.
“In Lagos, we have observed some of these impostors being enabled by certain health facilities and professionals,” she revealed.
She emphasized the association’s collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to shut down illegal training centres and prosecute unauthorized practitioners.
Adeboboye further raised concerns about the growing attrition of nurses, revealing that over 15,000 professionals have migrated abroad in just two years, with Lagos accounting for a significant portion.
“While we are grateful for the retention allowance, its value has been significantly eroded by inflation,” she noted.
She urged the state government to implement broader, long-term policies that address job satisfaction and economic stability to curb the exodus.
She also called for the regularisation of graduate nurses facing career stagnation due to administrative disparities, warning that such issues lead to “false attrition and avoidable resignations.”
Beyond fighting quackery and attrition, Adeboboye advocated for systemic reforms to improve welfare and amplify the voices of nurses in policy decisions.
She demanded sustainable welfare packages, official vehicles for senior nurses, special housing schemes, and the elevation of nurses to Grade Level 17 as Permanent Secretaries.
“These demands are not mere requests; they are strategic investments in the future of healthcare delivery in Lagos State,” she stressed.
She concluded that empowering nurses and midwives would directly reduce maternal and infant mortality, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the state’s economy.
