The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has called for increased employment of nurses to curb the mass migration of health care professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.

Acting registrar of the council, Ndagi Alhassan, made this appeal in Abuja during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions.

He said while the council has expanded training institutions and increased admission quotas to address the ‘japa syndrome,’ a major challenge remains-the inadequate employment of trained nurses.

“Even with more nurses graduating, the system is not absorbing them. Many are not practising, and the work environment is far from conducive. This lack of employment and poor working conditions are driving them away, and they are not being replaced,” he said.

He called on the National Assembly to advocate for the recruitment of more nurses, stating, “A higher number of employed nurses will help tackle these challenges.”

Alhassan also said the nursing profession requires empathy, patience, and friendliness toward patients.

He said the council operates 20 zonal offices and plans to expand further to enhance regulation and compliance with professional ethics.

He also noted that while the council’s governing board was dissolved in 2023, it collaborates with security agencies to handle serious cases.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, Amos Magaji, stressed the need to improve the working conditions of nurses, ensuring professionalism and empathy in healthcare service delivery.

He also called for increased budgetary allocations for regulatory bodies like the nursing council to enable them to fulfil their mandates effectively.

“The agency is making significant strides despite limited resources. Last year, they received no funding, and in 2025, they were reintegrated into the budget system but without an allocation. This makes it difficult for them to carry out their regulatory duties, including monitoring and licensing nurses. We urge the government to address this in the 2026 budget,” Magaji said.