In a recent development in Nigeria, eight nurses have taken legal action against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Minister of Health over new certificate verification guidelines. The council issued a circular on February 7, requiring nurses and midwives seeking to work abroad to have at least two years of post-qualification experience in the country.

This new requirement has sparked protests in Abuja and Lagos, with nurses demanding a reversal of the guidelines. Some nurses have gone a step further by filing a lawsuit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja. The defendants in the case include the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Nigeria, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

During a recent court hearing, the judge adjourned the matter until May 20, as the complaints requested time to respond to the preliminary objection filed by the defendants. The nurses are seeking to restrain the implementation of the new guidelines and suspend their commencement until the court makes a final determination.

The nurses are advocating for their constitutional rights and freedom to seek better career opportunities abroad, emphasizing the importance of continuing the verification of certificates for those in the nursing and midwifery profession. The case, marked NICN/ABJ/76/2024, highlights the ongoing struggle for professional mobility and career advancement in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.