The nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Abuja and Lagos chapters, protested the new circular on certificate verification by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
They converged on the NMCN’s offices in Abuja and Lagos to express their dissatisfaction and threatened a nationwide strike, describing the new guidelines as an effort to hamper their freedom.
NMCN, in its revised guidelines, stated 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.
This was revealed in a memo dated 7th February and signed by the NMCN Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Faruk Abubakar.
One of the nurses protesting the revised guidelines and requirements for certificate verification by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has said the Council lacks the power to hold them in Nigeria.
The nurse identified as Margaret said nurses in the country get their certificates with exorbitant money and as such cannot be held with hostile policies by the Council, which works for the federal government.
Speaking to Vanguard, Margaret vented her frustration, “From nursing education to graduation to working, you struggle in Nigeria as a nurse. You pay exorbitant fees to study nursing at Nigerian universities after paying exorbitant fees. Even where we go for practical experience, our institutions still pay for it because it’s not free.
“We don’t benefit from the Nigerian government. So why would they want to hold us for three years after graduation? We are not under a bond or any contract. We did not enjoy any subsidised fees or free education in Nigeria because we paid from our pockets. So we should be allowed to stay in Nigeria or work elsewhere because of freedom of movement, speech, and human rights.
“We are not going to stay six months before we verify; we want a verification process within 24 hours. We want it to be free because we already paid for the licence, and we pay to renew licence every time. In fact, why do we need to get a letter of good standing from the CEO or even the head of office?
“The individuals asking for verification are asking you to verify if I’m truly a registered and licensed nurse in Nigeria, and the question goes to you as a regulatory body, not to my employer, not to my CEO. So why would you be waiting for a letter of good standing from a CEO who employed me after you licensed me first before you can verify me?
“This is like pushing us into the hands of some group that wants to return us against our will. If you return us against our will to Nigeria, what will become of the public? Do you want us to be working against our will?
“There are nurses out there studying and growing, and they’re doing better. That’s the only way they can bring better initiative and information into the Nigerian nursing system. We don’t want to remain stagnant or go back into the past. We want to evolve and meet international standards in Nigeria.” – Vanguard.
