Nurse Breaks Down Over Poor Pay Despite Spending Millions on Nursing School

Nurse Breaks Down Over Poor Pay Despite Spending Millions on Nursing School

  • A Nigerian nurse went viral after criticising low salaries despite the high cost of studying nursing
  • She alleged that graduates paid up to ₦2.5 million per session but were offered salaries as low as ₦50,000
  • Her comments sparked debate about healthcare wages, unqualified workers, and Nigeria’s nursing system

A Nigerian nurse has sparked discussions online after speaking out about the poor pay in the nursing profession, despite the high cost of studying the course in the country.

In a video shared on TikTok, the nurse, identified as @melaningoddess115, expressed frustration over what she described as unfair salaries offered to newly graduated nurses.

nigerian nurse talks about low pay in her profession
A Nigerian nurse rants on poor pay in her profession despite high cost of getting a degree. Photo credit: @melaningoddess115. Image source: TikTok
Source: TikTok

She said many students pay as much as ₦2.5 million per academic session to study nursing in private universities, only to be offered salaries as low as ₦50,000 after graduation.

According to the nurse, the situation has discouraged many qualified professionals from practising nursing in Nigeria.

Read also

Student posts food provisions parents gave her for school, expresses her frustration

In her words:

"Imagine you paying 2.5 million per session to study nursing in a private university, and on graduating, someone is telling you to come and collect 50k. Ah, you guys should do better. It is sad."

Nigerian nurse rants on poor salary

She disclosed that some nurses who spent five years studying the course and even obtained master’s degrees have chosen not to work in the profession because of the poor pay.

The nurse questioned why hospitals and healthcare institutions continued to offer low wages, even as the cost of education kept rising.

"How will I spend 2.5 million to go to school and you are offering me 50k? For what exactly? For what? If you cannot employ these people, leave them," she cried out.

She argued that such conditions made it difficult for professionals to survive, especially considering the demanding nature of the job.

Read also

Peller left speechless as US soldier discloses mouth-watering military benefits if she dies

She also raised concerns about the growing number of unqualified individuals working in healthcare facilities. According to her, poor pay pushes trained nurses out of the system, creating room for unqualified workers, often referred to as "quacks," who are willing to accept lower wages.

nurse compares getting a profession degree to the pay attached to it
A Nigerian nurse speaks about the cost of getting a degree compared to the pay that comes with it. Photo credit: @melaningoddess115. Image source: TikTok
Source: TikTok

The nurse urged healthcare consumers to be cautious about where they seek medical care, advising them to pay attention to the quality and professionalism of healthcare workers in hospitals.

She said:

And you as the consumer of healthcare, once you see those hospitals you already know them, you understand? You already know them. By their fruits, you shall know them. From their dressing..."

Her TikTok video has since attracted attention on social media. Watch the video below:

Reactions to nurse's pay outburst

Legit.ng collected reactions from Nigerians. Some of the comments are below:

Elizabeth Toyin said:

"Not every nurses are meant to work in a private hospital. I never worked in a private hospital, I waited for 18 months after graduation to work with the federal government."

OLA wrote:

"I will use that money to set up a mini company for my daughter and train her to manage it."

Read also

"From shoe maker to flower packer": Nigerian lady shares how UK humbled her, video goes viral

Lady shares her experience as a nurse

Legit.ng had earlier reported that a Nigerian nurse shared a TikTok video showing the uniform she wore to the hospital, and she was chased out.

It appeared the uniform hugged her body too tightly, and the authorities at the hospital disapproved of it.

She went out and gave the uniform to a tailor to reshape it for her before she returned to work at the health facility.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Oluwadara Adebisi avatar

Oluwadara Adebisi (Human Interest Editor) Adebisi Oluwadara is a Human Interest Editor who joined Legit.ng in January 2026. He has over seven years of experience in press release writing and journalism. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Food Science and Technology. However, he was mentored in journalism and became a certified journalist after completing the Google News Initiative courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation. He can be reached at oluwadara.adebisi@corp.legit.ng