Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigerian nurses, under the aegis of the Elegant Nurses Forum (ENF), have called for an urgent review of the ₦40,000 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) fee, following a nationwide survey that found widespread dissatisfaction with the cost and little evidence of improvements in training quality. The forum, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 6, 2026, said the survey received more than 270 responses from practising nurses across several states, with the highest participation recorded in Kaduna, Lagos, Anambra, Imo, Ogun and Akwa Ibom.
According to the ENF, most respondents said they had not noticed any significant improvement in the quality, organisation or delivery of the programme despite the increase in fees. The group said the most common responses from participants were that there was "no noticeable improvement", "no difference in programme delivery" and "no observable value added." While acknowledging that a small number of respondents reported modest improvements in organisation and learning experience, the forum said those responses were significantly outweighed by complaints that the higher fees had not translated into better services.
The survey also found that ₦40,000 had become the prevailing fee paid by nurses for the programme in many states, a sharp increase from the previous ₦20,000. The forum said many respondents described the fee as excessive and insensitive to prevailing economic realities, urging authorities to review the amount. Beyond the structured questions, the survey also invited respondents to comment freely on the programme. According to the report, the dominant concerns raised included the high cost of the MCPDP, poor value for money, economic hardship, lack of transparency in the determination and utilisation of fees, limited accessibility to training centres and concerns over programme quality.
The forum also cited reports from Lagos State where some nurses allegedly completed the training after paying the required fee but were reportedly not issued certificates because officials claimed there was insufficient paper to print them. The ENF stressed that its position should not be interpreted as opposition to continuing professional development, insisting that it remains committed to lifelong learning and improving healthcare standards. However, it maintained that professional education should not become financially punitive for healthcare workers. "Continuing professional education should never become financially punitive. When professional fees are increased, there should be corresponding improvements that are visible, measurable and widely experienced by participants," the forum stated.
Based on the findings, the ENF called for an immediate and transparent review of the current fee structure, greater accountability in the determination and utilisation of MCPDP funds, improvements in programme delivery, expansion of virtual and hybrid learning options, establishment of more accredited training centres and regular consultations with practising nurses before future fee adjustments. The group added that the concerns expressed by frontline nurses deserved careful consideration rather than dismissal, arguing that professional development programmes should strengthen healthcare delivery without placing unnecessary financial burdens on practitioners.
The nurses' demand comes amid growing economic hardship in Nigeria, where rising costs of living and stagnant wages have made it increasingly difficult for many healthcare workers to afford professional development programmes. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which oversees the MCPDP, has yet to respond to the forum's demands. However, the ENF has made it clear that it will continue to push for a review of the fee structure until meaningful changes are implemented, urging regulators, professional bodies and policymakers to take the concerns of frontline nurses seriously.
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