
Health workers in Nigeria, particularly nurses, have strongly opposed the recently introduced regulations by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), tasked with regulating the practice of nursing and midwifery in the country, recently introduced new regulations pertaining to certificate verification. According to a memo issued by the NMCN CEO, nurses seeking verification of their qualifications are now required to have a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience. Additionally, the memo outlines specific criteria and documentation necessary for the verification process. While the intent behind these regulations may be to ensure the credibility and competence of registered nurses, the implementation has been met with vehement opposition from the nursing community.
Health workers in Nigeria, especially nurses, have raised vociferous objections to the new regulations imposed by the NMCN. One of the primary concerns voiced by nurses is the arbitrary nature of the two-year post-qualification experience requirement. Many argue that this criterion fails to consider the diverse experiences and contexts within which nurses practice across the country. Moreover, given the perennial challenges faced by the Nigerian healthcare system, including staffing shortages and limited resources, mandating two years of post-qualification experience poses a significant barrier for newly graduated nurses seeking certification. Critics argue that this requirement could exacerbate the already dire shortage of qualified healthcare professionals and impede efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
The new rules mandate that individuals seeking to verify their certificates with overseas nursing boards or councils must possess at least two years of post-qualification experience.
Issued in a February 7, 2024 memo, the council outlined the updated criteria, which Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, the NMCN Chief Executive Officer and registrar, signed.
According to the memo, applicants must hold a permanent practising license for at least two years from the date of issuance, and applications with provisional licenses will be rejected outright. Additionally, active practising licenses with a minimum of six months until expiration are required, with only Certificates of Registration being acceptable for upload.
In light of the escalating tensions between the NMCN and nurses, stakeholders within the healthcare sector are calling for constructive dialogue and collaborative solutions. Nurses’ associations and professional bodies have urged the NMCN to reconsider its stance and engage in meaningful consultations with frontline healthcare workers. Rather than unilateral decision-making, a participatory approach that takes into account the perspectives and experiences of nurses is essential for developing policies that are equitable, transparent, and conducive to the advancement of nursing practice in Nigeria. Additionally, there is a growing consensus on the need for broader reforms within the healthcare system, including investments in education, infrastructure, and workforce development, to address the root causes of the current crisis.
Moreover, the processing time for verification applications is stated to take at least six months, with incomplete documentation not being processed.
However, many nurses and healthcare professionals perceive these requirements as a breach of human rights, asserting that previous verification processes did not demand years of experience or service.
Social media platforms have been flooded with reactions from medical professionals expressing frustration and disbelief at the new regulations.
@Ademidamolla expressed concern over the extended processing time, questioning the necessity of post-qualification experience for verification.
@tana_lifted highlighted the impracticality of requiring a doctor’s endorsement for nurses seeking verification, especially for those intending to relocate.
@Nursebassey emphasized that nurses should not bear the brunt of the country’s economic challenges, as they are not government-sponsored or trained.
@DTechNurse criticized the association of verification conditions with medical doctors, calling for reversing the requirement for a doctor’s approval for career advancement.
@AlongeElijah denounced the regulations as “stupid” and announced plans to notify international nursing bodies and human rights organizations, pledging to rally at the NMCN office in Abuja.
The uproar among Nigerian nurses underscores the significance of transparent and fair regulatory practices in the healthcare sector.
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