Nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives protested against new verification certification guidelines released by the Nigeria and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
The nurses argue that the guidelines hinder their freedom to pursue career opportunities and called on the council to address critical issues affecting them, such as welfare, salary scale, and shortage of staff.
The NMCN had issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives. Under the new guidelines, applicants must pay a non-refundable fee for verification, have a minimum of two years post qualification experience, and provide a letter of good standing from their workplace and nursing training institution.
The council also stated that processing of verification applications would take a minimum of six months. The nursing community views these regulations as overly restrictive and detrimental to their career mobility.
The nurses and midwives protested outside the NMCN's office, carrying placards with inscriptions such as "Address unemployment among nurses," "Address quackery," and "Protect nurses, protect healthcare." They argue that they are already facing many challenges and that the new verification rules further add to their frustrations. The NMCN has not yet responded to the protest.
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