The Board of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has approved the wearing of shoulder-length hijab for nurses while on duty.
The approval came at an emergency meeting convened on December 20, 2022, Muslim News gathered.
In a circular issued by its Secretary-General/Registrar, Faruk Umar Abubakar PhD, the Council noted that the development is a validation of the Circular N&MCN/CMF/721/1/3 of 11th February, 2002 on Nurses Uniform.
According to him, the circular stated that female nurses should wear either a nurse cap or a shoulder-length hijab.
Council approves hijab for nurses in Nigeria
The Board of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has approved the wearing of shoulder-length #hijab for nurses while on duty.
The approval came at an emergency meeting convened on December 20, 2022, @muslimnews_NG gathered. pic.twitter.com/JDc2TdXbH0
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) December 23, 2022
There have, however, been series of harassment and violations recorded against nurses and nursing students over the hijab.
In this new circular, the board established approval for the use of hijab by nurses.
“Heads of health facilities are hereby advised to abide by the Board’s decision for allowing female nurses to wear shoulder-length hijab on their uniform while on duty,” the circular read.
Muslim News reports that the directive is also binding on nursing schools whose heads and directors have been copied in the circular.
Abubakar concluded: “Thank you for your cooperation with the Council in promoting and maintaining excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice in Nigeria in line with global best practices.”