Breaking: Nigerian Nurses Demonstrate Against Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria on Stringent Conditions for Certificate Verification in Abuja.

Breaking: Nigerian Nurses Demonstrate Against Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria on Stringent Conditions for Certificate Verification in Abuja.

 ……. “The group said Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is asphyxiating members through unfounded prerequisites for Certificate Verification”

Oluwasegun Falade Reporting

Abuja, Nigeria.

It has been reliably gathered that the Nigerian Nurses under the auspices of Nurses Reform Initiative (NRI) has trooped out in their numeric strength to register their grievances and displeasure over the recent circular released by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

The Nurses who had converged at the Council’s headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, were spotted in their well-kitted professional regalias that portrays the identity and dignity of the noble profession.

In a bid to register their grievance, the inscriptions on their placards and banners speaks volumes of the ill-treatment melted on this category of frontline healthcare professionals by the Nigerian government.

Apparently, the sad smile on the faces of the nurses during the peaceful demonstration shows that the intent of the released circular is not only retrogressive; but also inimical to the social security and career progression of Nurses in the country.

Recall that HeraldersTimes had reported how the NMCN shutdown the Verification portal on the 22nd of December, 2023 without any formal notice to its members neither on its official social media handle nor via electronic mail.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in its revised guidelines states that Nurses seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and local agencies must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence. To make matters worse, the memo indirectly subjects Nigerian Nurses at the mercy of the CEO of where they work as contained in the NMCN circular that letter of good standing must be made available for certificate verification.

This was disclosed in a memo dated 7th February 2024, and signed by the NMCN Registrar, Dr. Faruk Abubakar.

The Convener of the Demonstration who doubles as the initiator of Nurses Reform Initiative Nrs. Cynthia Okafor Adeyeri who spoke with our correspondent was quoted, saying ” we have came out this morning to demonstrate before the regulatory body of our noble profession that as Nurses we reject in its entirety all the contents of the circular dated 7th February, as it relates to certificate verification”

She stressed that they have converged to ask questions, and relaying further that they were curious to know the reasons behind those stringent certificate verification prerequisites that would rather subject Nigerian Nurses to the worst form of servitude; despite already demoralized by the Nigerian government.

It was also revealed to our correspondent who reports that these group of nurses under the ageis of Nurses reform Initiative submitted a letter to the Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

The demands of the Nigerian Nurses which was communicated to the NMCN Registrar via its letter is as follows:

1. Immediate withdrawal of the new circular; nurses are not to be enslaved.

2. NMCN verification to be completed within a maximum of 48 hours (2 days).

3. Verification process to be free, adhering to international standards (e.g., UK, USA, Canada etc.).

4. Increase in remuneration for nurses.

5. Improved nurses’ welfare.

6. Increase in hazard allowance.

7. Improved working conditions 

8. Increased support for professional development opportunities

The Convener of the Movement Nrs. Adeyeri who expresses confidence in the transformational leadership of the NMCN Registrar said by this demonstration the Registrar would consider the plight of Nigerian Nurses. ” Dr Faruk Abubakar is a dynamic leader with listening ears as Nurses we are optimistic that he would heed to the outcry of Nigerian Nurses” Nrs Adeyeri Maintained.

This publication has also been briefed that similar demonstration is currently ongoing at the country’s commercial nerve center in Lagos. However, all efforts to speak with the Convener of the Lagos demonstration has proven abortive as calls put across to her verified lines were not responded to as at press time.

These Peaceful demonstrations launched by the Nigerian Nurses at a time like this when economic downturn is quite palpable; yet in the faces of humiliating renumeration from government underscores the unbearable frustration that Nurses have to undergo in the discharge of its professional calling which had been further threatened by the NMCN’s misplaced priority, rather than standing tall with its members and addressing the welfare of Nurses in the country, it seems the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has resorted to playing government script to undermine the collective resolves of its members to have their verification done in the nick of time for whatever intention it suits.

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