A group of nurses has taken legal action against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Minister of Health, among others, regarding the new certificate verification guidelines. The council issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives. According to the new guidelines, applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license. These guidelines came into effect on March 1, 2024.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives expressed concern that the revised guidelines were aimed at preventing nurses from seeking opportunities abroad. They are particularly concerned about the requirement for a nurse seeking NMCN certification to have a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience, as well as the need to obtain a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of their place of work and the last training institution attended. The processing of the application is also expected to take a minimum of six months.
In response to these concerns, nurses in Abuja and Lagos protested to demand the reversal of the new guidelines. Some dissatisfied nurses on behalf of their colleagues took legal action against the Registrar of NMCN, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Health, and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court in Abuja. They are seeking to restrain the defendants from implementing the NMCN circular and to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.
The complainants are urging the court to suspend the commencement of the NMCN's Revised Guidelines for Verification of Certificates and to restrain the defendants from hindering nurses and midwives in Nigeria from seeking better career opportunities and training abroad. At the proceedings, counsel for the complainants requested an adjournment to respond to the preliminary objection filed by the first and second defendants. Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae adjourned the matter till May 20 for hearing, ordering that the hearing notice be served on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation.
