The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its verification portal for nurses and midwives on its website, following widespread criticism and protests from healthcare professionals.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the portal was reopened on Friday, allowing nurses and midwives to submit verification requests.
The move comes after the sudden deactivation of the verification portal in February, which caused turmoil for countless Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad. Many were forced to return to the country due to visa and employment issues.
The NMCN had introduced new guidelines for certificate verification, requiring nurses and midwives to have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience and a letter of good standing from their employer and training institution.
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However, these guidelines were met with resistance from healthcare professionals, who argued that they were an attempt to hinder their freedom to pursue career opportunities abroad.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) had petitioned the NMCN and the government to withdraw the circular, and some nurses and midwives took to the streets in protest.
Consequently, the House of Representatives also intervened, asking the NMCN not to implement the revised guidelines.
However, the association is still pushing for the government to address its demands, including the payment of salaries for NMCN staff, the constitution of the board, and the creation of a special nurses’ salary structure
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