The Elegant Nurses Forum (ENF) has called for an immediate review of the ₦40,000 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) fee, saying the current cost has become a financial burden for nurses without corresponding improvements in the quality of the programme.
The call followed the outcome of a nationwide opinion survey conducted by the forum among practising nurses across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Deputy National Coordinator of the ENF, RN Akerele Ayodeji Samuel (MSc, PhD in view), the forum said the survey was aimed at gathering first-hand information on nurses’ experiences with the MCPDP fee and the quality of services associated with the programme.
According to the statement, while the ENF strongly supports continuing professional education as a vital component of modern nursing practice, professional development “must remain accessible, affordable, transparent and responsive to the realities faced by practising Nurses.”
“Professional development should never become an unnecessary financial burden capable of discouraging compliance or creating additional hardship for healthcare professionals who are already working under extremely demanding economic conditions,” the statement said.
The forum disclosed that the electronic survey, conducted via Google Forms, attracted more than 270 responses from practising nurses across several states, including Kaduna, Lagos, Anambra, Imo, Ogun and Akwa Ibom.
Respondents were asked to state their place of practice, the current MCPDP fee in their state, whether the fee increase had improved service delivery, and any additional observations about the programme.
According to ENF, the survey showed that the ₦40,000 fee has become the prevailing amount charged in many states.
It added that the overwhelming majority of respondents reported no noticeable improvement in the quality, organisation or delivery of the MCPDP despite the increase in fees.
Among the most common responses were: “No noticeable improvement,” “No difference in programme delivery,” and “No observable value added.”
The forum acknowledged that a small number of respondents reported modest improvements such as better organisation and learning experiences but noted that such views were significantly outweighed by complaints of poor service.
“The inability of most respondents to identify tangible improvements naturally raises questions regarding the perceived value derived from the increased financial burden placed upon practising Nurses,” the statement said.
Beyond the structured questions, respondents also expressed concerns about several aspects of the programme.
The ENF said the most frequently raised issue was the high cost of the MCPDP, with many nurses describing the ₦40,000 fee as excessive, unaffordable and insensitive to prevailing economic realities.
The survey also highlighted concerns over poor value for money, with respondents questioning why higher fees had not translated into better training quality or participant experience.
The statement cited a report from Lagos where some nurses who completed the training allegedly did not receive certificates because, according to officials at the training centre, there was insufficient paper available for printing despite participants paying the required fee.
Other recurring concerns included the impact of inflation and rising living costs, demands for greater transparency in the determination and utilisation of MCPDP fees, limited accredited training centres, high transportation costs, and calls for expanded virtual or hybrid learning options.
Some respondents also recommended improvements to course content and training methods, saying certain sessions were repetitive and not adequately aligned with current clinical realities.
The forum stressed that its findings should not be interpreted as opposition to continuing professional development.
“ENF strongly supports lifelong learning and recognises that continuing education is fundamental to patient safety, professional competence and healthcare quality,” the statement said.
“However, 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 ENF said the apparent disconnect between increased financial obligations and perceived service improvements deserved the attention of relevant authorities.
It recommended an immediate and transparent review of the current MCPDP fee structure, greater accountability over how fees are determined and utilised, measurable improvements in programme delivery, expansion of hybrid and virtual learning options, establishment of additional accredited training centres, regular stakeholder consultations before future fee adjustments, and stronger quality assurance mechanisms.
The forum maintained that listening to frontline healthcare professionals was essential for developing fair and sustainable policies.
“The ENF therefore calls upon all relevant stakeholders to approach these findings in the spirit of dialogue, partnership and continuous improvement,” the statement said.
It added that the survey represents the voices of practising nurses across Nigeria and urged policymakers and professional bodies to ensure those concerns are “heard, respected and carefully considered” in future decisions relating to the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme.
