CONHESS Salary Structure for Nurses in Nigeria (2025 Update)

 Nursing remains one of the most essential professions in Nigeria’s healthcare system, playing a critical role in patient care, health education, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. For nurses employed in government hospitals and health institutions, salaries and allowances are determined by a standardised framework known as the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

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Whether you’re a nursing student, a practising nurse, or simply curious about what Nigerian nurses earn in 2025, this blog post breaks it down clearly and comprehensively.

What is CONHESS?

The Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) is the official remuneration model introduced by the Nigerian Federal Government for healthcare workers—excluding medical doctors, who fall under CONMESS. CONHESS provides a unified platform for calculating the salaries, allowances, and benefits of allied health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, and radiographers.

CONHESS has 15 grades (from CONHESS 1 to 15). Each grade comes with 15 steps, and movement across steps or grades happens through promotions, years of service, or further qualifications. Your grade placement as a nurse depends on your qualification (RN/RM, BNSc, MSc, etc.), years of experience, and role in the hospital system.

Updated CONHESS Salary Structure for Nurses (2025)

The following is a breakdown of the estimated basic monthly salaries for nurses according to their cadre, based on recent adjustments and federal-level implementation as of 2025:

Nursing Cadre	CONHESS Level	Estimated Basic Monthly Salary in Naira
Staff Nurse / Midwife (RN/RM Diploma)	CONHESS 07	135,000-150,000
Graduate Nurse (BSc Nursing/BNSc)	CONHESS 08	160,000- 175,000
Nursing Officer I	CONHESS 09	185,000- ¦200,000
Senior Nursing Officer	CONHESS 10	15,000- 230,000
Principal Nursing Officer	CONHESS 12	285,000- ¦310,000
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO)	CONHESS 13	340,000- ¦370,000
Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)	CONHESS 14	395,000- ¦420,000
Director of Nursing Services     (DNS)	450,000.480,000+

Note: These figures reflect the basic salary and do not include additional allowances, which significantly impact the total earnings.

Allowances and Benefit

In addition to the basic salary, nurses on the CONHESS structure are entitled to various allowances which are either fixed or duty-dependent. These include:

• Hazard Allowance: ₦15,000 – ₦30,000 (based on unit or risk exposure)
• Shift Duty Allowance: Paid to nurses involved in rotational shifts
• Call Duty Allowance: Applicable to nurses who are on standby beyond normal working hours
• Rural Posting Allowance: Offered to nurses deployed to remote or underserved areas
• Uniform and Registration Allowances: Provided annually to cover professional upkeep
• Leave, Housing, and Transport Allowances: Variable based on the institution.

When aggregated, these allowances can increase a nurse’s take-home pay by as much as 30–50%, depending on their duty schedule and station.

Factors That Influence Nurse Salaries

While CONHESS provides a standardised structure, actual earnings may vary due to several factors:

1. Level of Government: Federal institutions typically implement the full salary structure, whereas some state governments may delay promotions or underpay due to budget constraints.
2. Professional Qualifications: Nurses with advanced degrees (e.g., MSc, PhD) or specialist certifications (e.g., perioperative, paediatrics, or public health) may be placed on higher grades or fast-tracked for promotion.
3. Years of Experience: Length of service significantly influences step movement within a grade and eligibility for promotion.
4. Duty Postings: Nurses working in hazardous, high-risk, or rural environments often earn additional bonuses and benefits.