The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its website verification portal for nurses and midwives to submit verification requests, bringing relief to Nigerian nurses and midwives abroad.
On Friday night, the portal reopened with the message, “Good news, verification requests are back online.”
“Please note that henceforth expiration dates on renewal applications will be calculated based on the date you applied.”
The unexpected deactivation of the verification portal in February caused widespread disruption and distress for many Nigerian nurses and midwives employed abroad, according to Persecondnews.
Already, some nurses without the necessary verification from the NMCN find themselves in violation of visa conditions and employment laws, resulting in legal consequences.
The issue has forced many nurses abroad, including those in the United Kingdom and the United States, to return home.
The council issued a circular on February 7, outlining the procedures and guidelines for nurses and midwives in the country to request verification of their certificates.
According to the circular, nurses and midwives seeking certificate verification must have at least two years of post-qualification experience, and the council will require a letter of good standing from their employer’s CEO and their last nursing school attended to be sent directly to the NMCN Registrar/CEO.
Their members from various states, including Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kaduna, Yenagoa, Ondo, and Plateau, petitioned the NMCN and the National Association of Nurses and Midwives’ headquarters, urging the withdrawal of the contentious certificate verification circular.
Some of them voiced their opposition, filed a later-withdrawn court case against the NMCN, and staged protests to show their dissatisfaction with the guidelines.
They criticized the council’s move as an attempt to restrict their ability to explore career opportunities overseas.
They also believe the decision aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to curb the migration of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
The House of Representatives intervened on February 27, urging NMCN to suspend implementation of its revised verification certificate guidelines.
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) made an urgent plea to the federal government on Friday to swiftly consider and resolve their outstanding demands.
Mr. Michael Nnachi, the National President of the association, highlighted several critical issues requiring attention, including the restoration of their certificate verification portal, payment of outstanding salaries to Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria staff.
Others are the formation of a governing board, the establishment of a specialized salary framework for nurses, or a prompt review of their unique professional allowances.
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