Solomon Odeniyi
Dust raised over the revised guidelines for issuing verification certificates is yet to settle as nurses have sued the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Minister of Health, among others.
PUNCH Healthwise reported that the NMCN had on February 7, 2024, issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.
The council 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 practising licence.
Though the new guidelines came into force on March 1, 2024, nurses and midwives had on Wednesday, February 7, lamented the deactivation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s verification portal since December 2023.
Nurses, midwives fault closure of nursing council verification portal – Healthwise (punchng.com)
PUNCH Healthwise reported that in a memo dated December 22, 2023, the NMCN, obtained by our correspondent, the General Manager of Exaro Enterprise Solution Limited, was directed to close the verification portal.
The memo titled, ‘Closure of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s verification portal’ was signed by Godwill Stella.
It partly read, “I am directed by the Registrar/CEO, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to inform you to close the verification application portal by 4:00 pm today, being 22nd December, 2023.
“Please note that the notice for reopening of the verification portal will be communicated to you in due course. Please accept the assurances of our Registrar/CEO’s highest regards.”
While speaking with our correspondent, the nurses alleged that the deactivation of the portal by the council is an attempt to hinder their freedom to pursue career opportunities.
As a result of this, nurses in Abuja and Lagos protested to demand the reversal of the new guidelines.
Uproar raised over made the House of Representatives, to wade in, urging the NMCN not to implement the revised guidelines.
Reps halt NMCN’s new certificate verification guidelines for nurses – Healthwise (punchng.com)
The intervention by the lawmakers followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot/Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Patrick Umoh.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the debate, Umoh acknowledged the concerns, protests, and stiff opposition of nurses to the implementation of the NMCN’s revised guidelines.
He said the verification of certificates was to confirm and authenticate an already existing certificate issued by the council, adding that the requirement for two years of post-qualification experience before verification of the certificate was unreasonable, arbitrary, and unfair.
The lawmaker said the initiative would, among other things, restrict the freedom of nurses seeking education or additional skills and training in foreign universities.
Umoh said, “The requirement that applicants for verification must obtain a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant’s place of work is capable of creating forced labour and modern slavery as an applicant will be forced to be subjected to the whims and caprices of applicant’s employer.”
However, some dissatisfied nurses, on behalf of their colleagues, dragged the Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; the Federal Ministry of Health; and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.
The complainants in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024, are Desmond Aigbe; Kelvin Ossai; Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro; Tamunoibi Berry; Osemwengie Osagie; Abiola Olaniyan; Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse.
They are urging the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from implementing the NMCN circular pending the determination of the suit.
The nurses also urged the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.
The reliefs sought partly read, “An interlocutory order restraining suspending the commencement of the 2nd Defendant” “REVISED GUIDELINES FOR VERIFICATION OF CERTIFICATE(S) WITH THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA” earlier proposed to take effect from the 7th of March, 2024, as indicated on the 2nd Defendant’s circular dated 7th February, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants Originating Summons in this suit.
“An interlocutory order restraining the Defendants, their Partners, parastatals, subjects, counterparts. agents, servants, privies, assigns, or whoever, acting for. with or on behalf of the Defendants from taking any further step that may hinder, restrict, or infringe on the constitutional rights and freedom of nurses and midwives in Nigeria from emigrating to the country to seek better career opportunities and training abroad.
“An interlocutory order of the court mandating the 1st & 2nd Defendants to continue to carry out verification of certificates or any documents requested by applicants, their other intending colleagues, and other members of the Nursing and Midwifery profession within 7 days from the date of such application pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants Originating Summons.”
At the proceedings on Wednesday, counsel for the complaints, Ode Evans, told the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filled by the first and second defendants some moments ago.
He pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to reply to their applications.
Evans said, “I confirmed the receipt of the application from the first and second defendants this morning. We shall be asking for a date to enable us to file our responses.”
The judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, however, adjourned the matter till May 20 for hearing.
She ordered that the hearing notice be served on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation, who had no legal representation in court.
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