Nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Abuja chapter are currently protesting the recently issued verification certification guidelines released by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
At the protest monitored by Lafiya360 on Monday, the nurses expressed their dissatisfaction, characterizing it as an effort to impede their freedom to pursue career opportunities.
They urged the council to address concerns such as nurses’ welfare, salary scale, staff shortages, and other rights.
Background
Lafiya360 reported that NMCN, in its revised guidelines released on Tuesday night, states that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence.
The circular signed by its Registrar, Faruk Abubakar read in part, “A non-refundable fee per application shall be paid for verification to foreign boards of nursing as specified on the portal. This shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work, and foreign board.
“Eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence. Any application with a provisional licence shall be rejected outrightly.
“The council shall request a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO, NMCN. Please note that the council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”
The council also stated that applicants must have an active practicing licence with a minimum of six months to the expiration date, and processing of verification application takes a minimum of six months.
It added that the implementation of the guidelines takes effect from 1 March 2024.
Nigerian health workers have expressed their outrage on social media, labeling this development as a violation of human rights.
Meanwhile, the NANNM, Lagos State Chapter, has called for the immediate reversal and withdrawal of the new circular on certificate verification by the NMCN.
Protest
On Monday, nurses and midwives peacefully rallied at the NMCN office, singing and displaying placards that called attention to issues like unemployment, quackery, and nurses’ welfare.
Some of the placards conveyed messages such as “Address unemployment among nurses,” “Say no to verification rules,” and “Protect nurses, protect healthcare.”
Speaking with Lafiya360, one of nurses’ spokesman, Cynthia Adeyeri appealed to the government to improve the welfare of nurses, instead of issuing new guidelines on certificate verification.
Ms Adeyeri said, “We are to give the registrar a letter and to state our displeasure over the certificate verification. We are saying no to making us work for two years before we can leave (the country), we are saying no to getting a letter of good standing from the CMD from our hospitals, and we are saying no other things in the circular.
“The government should dialogue with young nurses to ask us why we are leaving Nigeria. We have a poor health care infrastructure and that is why people are leaving, they want to go to where they have better pay, and better welfare,” she said.
Isioma Alexis, another nurse, expressed strong opposition to the circular issued by the nursing council.
Ms Alexis emphasized the disapproval of requiring a letter of good standing before obtaining the verification certificate and urged a reversal of all aspects in the circular, including those not yet implemented.
She highlighted the need for positive changes and conveyed dissatisfaction with the current situation, stating, “We are thinking of improvement, but they are giving us a shock of our lives.”
Addressing the nurses during the peaceful protest, Mr Abubakar, the Registrar of NMCN, assured them that their concerns would be promptly addressed.
He acknowledged their mobilization and stated, “I have listened to you, and I want to assure you that your documents will be examined comprehensively to address every issue in a short time.”
Mr Abubakar clarified that nobody is against nurses and midwives traveling abroad, emphasizing that any policy implemented aims for the best interest of Nigerians.
He encouraged the nurses to return to their workplaces, promising a thorough review of their complaints and a response within a couple of days.
About NMCN
The NMCN is the only legal, administrative, corporate and statutory body charged with performing specific functions on behalf of the Federal Government to ensure the delivery of safe and effective Nursing and Midwifery care to the public through quality education and best practices.
The council is mandated by law to regulate the standards of Nursing and Midwifery education and practice in Nigeria and to review such standards from time to time to meet the changing health needs of the society.