Nurses affiliated with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Abuja chapter, staged a protest on Monday against the newly released verification certification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Expressing their discontent, the nurses criticized the guidelines, asserting that they impede their freedom to pursue career opportunities. They called upon the council to prioritize nurses’ welfare, address salary scale issues, staff shortages, and uphold their rights.
The protest, which took place at the NMCN’s office in Abuja, was closely monitored by correspondents. The NMCN had issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the verification guidelines for nurses and midwives following the deactivation of the verification portal on its website since December 2023.
The circular, signed by the Registrar of the council, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, outlined various requirements for verification applications, including a non-refundable fee, a minimum of two years’ post-qualification experience, and active practicing licenses. It also stated that the processing of verification applications would take a minimum of six months, with implementation effective from March 1, 2024.
During the protest, nurses and midwives sang and carried placards around the NMCN premises, conveying messages such as “Address unemployment among nurses,” “Protect nurses, protect healthcare,” and “No to verification rules.” They voiced concerns about quackery, nurses’ welfare, and urged the council to refrain from reducing nurses’ rights.
Further details on the protest are forthcoming.
