Nurses storm NMCN office to protest new verification rules

Nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have rallied in Abuja to express their discontent with the recently enforced certification verification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

The protesting nurses, who gathered at the NMCN headquarters, accused the council of impeding their professional growth with what they perceive as overly strict and unnecessary regulations.

Holding signs reading “No to verification rules!” and “Address nurses’ welfare,” they protested against guidelines introduced on February 7th, requiring a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience, a letter of good standing from both the employer and training institution, and a processing time of at least six months for nurses seeking employment abroad.

The circular, signed by Dr. Faruk Abubakar, the Registrar of the council, outlined the non-refundable fee for verification, emphasizing that eligible applicants must possess a minimum of two years post-qualification experience, and applications with provisional licenses will be rejected.

The guidelines are set to be implemented from March 1, 2024.