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.
In order to assist the Federal Government in achieving its Health-Care Reform Agenda, the Council has close working relationship with other sister organizations under the Federal Ministry of Health. These include the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and other health parastatals. The aim of creating this rapport is to work as a team in assisting the Government in actualizing its objectives in the health-care sector.
The Council also works in partnership and collaboration with national and international non-governmental organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, USAID, The British Council, International Council of Nurses, International Council for Midwives, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP),West African Health Organization (WAHO), Ipas, Netherlands Leprosy Relief Organisation, JSI/MMIS-Nigeria, Family Health International, GHAIN, PATHS, NACA, Pathfinder International, Society For Family Heath etc, in developing and implementing various health programmes, projects, workshops/seminar etc., aimed at uplifting the standards of Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice in the country.
The Council also maintains close relationship with National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), National Universities Commission (NUC), Federal and State Universities, Polytechnics, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Centre for Management Development, Federal Training Centres (for academic and professional training programme for staff).