Nursing Council Reopens Verification Portal for Nigerian Nurses and Midwives
In a significant development, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has reopened its verification portal for nurses and midwives on its website. The portal was initially shut down in February, plunging countless Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad into turmoil.
According to reports, the verification portal was reopened on Friday, allowing nurses and midwives to submit verification requests once again. When our correspondent checked the portal, it displayed a message stating, “Good news, verification requests are back online. Please note that henceforth expiration dates on renewal applications will be calculated based on the date you applied.”
Anthony Ijeoma, a nurse at Nursingworld Nigeria, confirmed that the portal has been reopened and commended the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives for bringing about the change. “I also commend NMCN for listening to reason and reopening its verification portal for nurses within and outside the country,” he stated.
The sudden deactivation of the verification portal by the council in February caused chaos among Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad, leading to numerous legal consequences and forced returns to the country. Many nurses, including those in the United Kingdom and the United States, were affected by the situation.
The controversy surrounding the verification portal stems from a circular released by the council on February 7, which introduced new guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives. The guidelines required a minimum of two years post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license, among other conditions.
The state councils and chapters of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria, as well as the nursing community, vehemently protested the guidelines, leading to petitions and court cases. On February 27, the House of Representatives also urged the council not to implement the revised guidelines.
Nurses and midwives claim that the council’s actions are aimed at hindering their freedom to pursue career opportunities abroad, and that it is connected to the Federal Government’s plan to reduce the number of health workers emigrating from the country.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has appealed to the Federal Government to address its demands with urgency, including the re-opening of the verification portal, payment of salaries for all staff of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, constitution of the board, and creation of a special nurses salary structure or review of nurses’ professional allowances.
