Private hospitals do not pay the same amount to their nurses as Government hospitals do. In fact, Government Institutions nurses earn average salary of between N100,000 – N150,000 which excludes allowances and other benefits. The salaries are, however, below what most hospitals in Europe pay their health workers. Health workers find it difficult to stay in Nigeria after realizing they could earn even higher abroad.

Depending on the hospital and qualifications of the nurses, some private hospitals pay their nurses either higher or lower than the salaries paid by federal and state governments.

While some private hospitals pay nurses even lower than N90,000 some still pay really interesting salaries. For single qualified nurses, that is, nurses with one certificate, their salaries can be as low as N40,000 and up to N70,000 whereas, double qualified nurses, that is, those with two certificates earn as high as N150,000. Still at private hospitals, intensive care nurses pocket between N150,000 – N200,000 and these nurses also earn extra income by doing freelance jobs for N20,000 – N30,000 per shift.

You will be surprised to know that many hospitals don’t pay nurses and doctors even a single Naira. These are doctors who are recruited as interns or volunteers. While some hospitals pay a stipend of between N10,000 – N30,000 when they recruit trainees.

Since the salaries of health workers are low in Nigeria, most of them seek greener pastures overseas.