The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is a category B parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health established by Decree No. 89, 1979 now known as Nursing and Midwifery (Registration etc) act. Cap. N143, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The Council is a body Corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
It is the only legal, administrative, corporate and statutory body charged with the performance of specific functions on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria in order to ensure the delivery of safe and effective Nursing and Midwifery care to the public through quality education and best practices. The Council is mandated by Law to regulate the standards of Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice in Nigeria and to review such standards from time to time to meet the changing health needs of the society.
The primary objectives of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria are to ensure high quality of Nursing and Midwifery education in Nigeria, maintain high standard of professional nursing and midwifery practice and enforce discipline within the profession. The Council has its headquarters in Abuja with Zonal Offices in Sokoto, Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu, PortHarcourt and Lagos.
The Council is headed by a Secretary General/Registrar and is assisted by other professionals and non-professional staff. They are responsible to a Board headed by a Chairman with members drawn from various institutions and zones in the country.