In a bid to contest the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria's (NMCN) new certificate verification guidelines, a group of nurses has taken legal action against the Council, along with the Minister of Health and others.
The dispute arises from the NMCN's circular issued on February 7, 2024, which introduced revised guidelines for certificate verification. Among the contentious provisions is a requirement for nurses seeking verification from foreign nursing boards to possess two years of post-qualification experience.
Nurses, represented by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, argue that these guidelines aim to hinder their opportunities abroad. Protests have erupted in Abuja and Lagos, urging the reversal of the guidelines.
In response, the dissatisfied nurses have filed a lawsuit before the National Industrial Court in Abuja, seeking to halt the implementation of the guidelines pending further legal deliberations.
The case, marked NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024, is set for hearing on May 20, with the nurses urging the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.
