Nurses affiliated with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Abuja chapter, took to the streets on Monday to protest against the recently released certification verification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
Expressing their discontent, the nurses condemned what they perceived as an infringement on their career opportunities and urged the council to address pressing issues such as nurses’ welfare, salary scale, staff shortages, and other fundamental rights.
The protest, closely observed by our correspondent, unfolded at the NMCN’s office in Abuja.
The NMCN had issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the guidelines for certificate verification for nurses and midwives, following earlier reports of the deactivation of the verification portal on the NMCN’s website since December 2023.
According to the circular signed by the Registrar, Dr Faruk Abubakar, applicants must fulfill certain criteria, including a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience, possession of an active practicing license, and submission of a letter of good standing from relevant authorities.
Furthermore, the processing of verification applications is expected to take a minimum of six months, with the guidelines slated to come into effect from March 1, 2024.
During the protest, nurses and midwives were seen chanting slogans and carrying placards with messages addressing various grievances, including unemployment, quackery, welfare issues, and opposition to the new verification rules.
Details of the protest are still unfolding.
