Medical Nurses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have trooped out in Abuja to protest against what they called “unfair treatment” through new rules on verification exercise.
The protesters, under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Abuja chapter, said that the government should address unemployment among nurses instead of the new rules on certificate verification.
Some of the placards they carried while marching on Abuja streets today, February 12 read: Address unemployment among nurses; address quackery; address nurses welfare; #No to verification rules.
They called for a stop to the frustration of the Nigerian nurses, saying: “we are going through a lot already. Protect nurses, protect healthcare, NMCN; we say no to the verification rules, NMCN; don’t reduce nurses.”
They asked the council (Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to address nurses’ welfare, salary scale, shortage of staff and other rights.
The NMCN had issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.
The council’s circular was released after a report of the deactivation of the verification portal on NMCN’s website since December 2023.
The circular, signed by the Registrar of the Council, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, read in part: “A non-refundable fee per application shall be paid for verification by 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 outright.
“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.”
