Some nurses in the country have filed a lawsuit against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Minister of Health, among others, about the new certificate verification guidelines.
On February 7, 2024, the NMCN issued a circular updating the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.
The council said that people seeking certificate verification from foreign nursing boards must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of getting the permanent practicing licence.
The new guidelines became effective on March 1, 2024.
Due to this, nurses in Abuja and Lagos protested to demand the reversal of the new guidelines.
However, some unhappy nurses, on behalf of their colleagues, took the Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; the Federal Ministry of Health; and the Attorney General of the Federation to the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
The individuals filing the suit labeled NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024 are Desmond Aigbe; Kelvin Ossai; Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro; Tamunoibi Berry; Osemwengie Osagie; Abiola Olaniyan; Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse.
They are asking the court to stop the defendants or their representatives from carrying out the NMCN circular while the suit is ongoing.
The nurses also requested the court to delay the start of the new guidelines.
The requested actions partly mention, “An interim order to stop the beginning of the 2nd Defendant’s revised guidelines for verification of certificate(s) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria that was planned to start on March 7, 2024, as stated on the 2nd Defendant’s circular dated February 7, 2024, until the claimants/applicants originating summons are heard and decided in this suit.
“An interim order to stop the Defendants, their Partners, organizations, agencies, counterparts, representatives, employees, relatives, assigns, or anybody else acting for, with, or on behalf of the Defendants from taking any further actions that may obstruct or violate the constitutional rights and freedom of nurses and midwives in Nigeria from moving to other countries to seek better career opportunities and training overseas.
“An interim court order mandating the 1st & 2nd Defendants to continue to verify certificates or any documents requested by applicants, their other intending colleagues, and other members of the Nursing and Midwifery profession within 7 days from the date of such application until the claimants/applicants originating summons are heard and decided.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, the complainants' lawyer, Ode Evans, informed the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filed by the first and second defendants a short while ago.
He asked the court to reschedule the matter so he could respond to their applications.
Evans stated that he received the application from the first and second defendants this morning. He mentioned that they will request a date to file their responses.
However, the judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, postponed the matter until May 20 for a hearing.
She directed that the hearing notice should be given to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation, who did not have legal representation in court.