The history of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has a lot in common with other allied professions, particularly in the health industry except that it came into existence before most if not all of them. Indeed, Nursing was among the first five recognised and accepted professions in the colonial era, hence recognition was transferred from the Home government. Nursing and Midwifery services were given prime of place because of their relevance and direct impact to the life, health and well-being of the individual family and community.
Therefore, in the attempt to modernize Nursing Education and Practice in the colony at least to cope with the developmental pace. The colonial Government decided to introduce, gradually, Nursing and Midwifery education on a formal basis, to enable them render modern and scientific Nursing and Midwifery care to the civil servants and their families.
In 1930, the Midwives Ordinance which established the defunct Midwives Board was promulgated to regulate Midwifery education and practice in Nigeria.
In 1947, the Nursing Council of Nigeria was established by the Registration of Nurses Ordinance of August 1947 to regulate and control the education and practice of Nursing in Nigeria.
From the humble beginning through the pioneering Midwives Ordinance of 1930 with its major Amendment known as the Mid¬wives Act of 1966 to the first Nurses Ordinance of August 1947 and series of Amendment, such as Ordinances of 1957, 1959, the Nurses Act, No. 2 of 1970; the Nurses Amendment Act No. 30, of 20th July, 1974, what started as two separate bodies were merged together into one big effective body by the enabling decree 89 of 1979. Since then it grew and developed more and more in status, functions and responsibilities as well as influence and authority as one of the foremost statutory professional regulating body with the largest scope, jurisdiction and professional personnel to control, supervise and regulate.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria known as “The Council” is the only professional Council for all grades and Cadres of Nurses and Midwives. It is the only legal and administrative, corporate and statutory body charged with specific functions to perform on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the delivery of safe and effective Nursing and Midwifery care to the public.
