Posted on: Mon 08-09-2025

Shocking U-Turn: Nigeria’s Nursing Council Drops Three-Strike Rule – Will This Save or Sink the Profession?

Lagos, Nigeria – September 8, 2025, 09:16 AM WAT In a seismic policy shift, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has overturned its long-standing rule of eliminating nursing students after three failed professional exam attempts, effective immediately as of September 2025. Announced by the newly appointed registrar Ndagi Alhassan in an official circular dated September 1, 2025, the reform allows students unlimited re-sit opportunities, signaling a bold move to align Nigeria’s nursing education with evolving global healthcare standards. 

The decision, detailed in a two-page document addressed to all state ministries of health, nursing institutions, and stakeholders, marks a significant departure from previous practice and places new accountability on training institutions to elevate teaching quality.

The circular, titled "Nursing Education Reforms: Elimination of Students After Three Professional Examination Attempts," explicitly states, “The Council is committed to regularly revising nursing and midwifery education to meet the evolving healthcare needs that align with global best practice and standards.” This change comes amid a reported 15% surge in nursing shortages across Nigeria, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024, contributing to a global deficit of 4.8 million nurses and midwives projected by 2030. The policy shift draws support from the 2023 Lancet Nigeria Commission, which advocated for equitable education reforms, and a 2021 BMJ study underscoring the critical role of institutional support in exam success rates, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria.

Under the new framework, the NMCN emphasizes, “The policy of eliminating unsuccessful candidates from training after three attempts has been a concern. It is imperative to move from a policy of mere elimination to a more student-centered approach that promotes students’ achievement and success.” This reversal aims to retain talent in a competitive global market, where demand for skilled nurses is soaring. 

Training institutions are now tasked with ensuring student success, with the circular noting, “The Council intends the purpose of every regulation and policy to be implemented and understood to ensure that academic excellence and global best practice calls for a more inclusive academic environment that supports the student-centered, supportive learning or eliminating candidates.”

Alhassan, who assumed the registrar role earlier this year to widespread acclaim vowed to “work tirelessly to promote the welfare of nurses and strengthen the standards of training and practice.” The NMCN circular concludes with a call to action: “The Council appeals to the Institutions of Nursing and Midwifery to implement strategies that will help all students succeed, especially those who may need more support and time to study and improve their learning.” As Nigeria navigates this reform, the healthcare sector watches closely to see if this student-centric approach will bolster its nursing workforce or challenge the profession’s global standing.

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