Nurses under the auspices of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Abuja chapter, staged a protest against the newly released verification certification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
The protest took place at the NMCN’s office in Abuja, where nurses expressed their displeasure and concerns regarding the new policies.
The guidelines, which takes effect on March 1, now stipulate that nurses must possess a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience from the date of permanent practicing license issuance before obtaining a verification certificate.
Additionally, applicants are required to have active practicing licenses with at least six months remaining until the expiration date.
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The circular issued by the NMCN on February 7, 2024, outlined that a non-refundable fee must be paid for each application to verify their status with the foreign boards of nursing. The applicants were also required to provide a letter of good standing from their place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended.
During the protest, nurses voiced their opposition to what they perceived as an attempt to hinder their freedom to pursue other career opportunities. They demanded a reversal of the rule and urged the council to address critical issues affecting nurses, including welfare, salary scale, staff shortages and other rights.
The placards carried by the protesters bore messages such as: “Address unemployment among nurses,” “Address quackery,” “Address nurses’ welfare,” “No to verification rules,” “Stoo frustrating Nigerian Nurses” and “Protect nurses. Protect healthcare.”
Nurses emphasized the need for the government to prioritize improving nurses’ welfare and called for a reversal of the new verification rules.
Meanwhile, the registrar of the NMCN, Mr. Abubakar, assured the protesting nurses that their complaints would be addressed promptly. He urged them to return to their respective places of work and promised a response within a few days.
