Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Reopens Certificate Verification Portal Amid Ongoing Negotiations

 

The Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its portal for verifying nurses' and midwives' certificates. The portal, which had been inactive since December 2023, became operational again on Saturday, though the Council has yet to release an official statement on the matter.

This development follows the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives' (NANNM) 15-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government to address long-standing demands, including the reopening of the verification portal, an improved salary structure for nurses, and the establishment of a Department of Nursing. The deadline for these demands was Monday, September 16, 2024, with the threat of industrial action if not addressed.

Before the portal's reopening, meetings were held between key stakeholders such as the Minister of Health, NMCN, and NANNM. Additionally, the National Assembly had previously requested that the NMCN open the portal to continue the verification process based on its former guidelines while awaiting the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the House Committee on Health Institutions.

Philip Eteng, the National Secretary of the Graduate Nurses Association of Nigeria (GNAN), confirmed the ongoing negotiations between the Minister of Health and representatives of Nigerian nurses. He noted that the portal's reopening was a result of the first day of discussions, with further details expected soon.

A nurse from a leading university teaching hospital also confirmed the portal's reopening, though the NANNM has advised nurses to wait until Wednesday for additional updates on certain minor issues. One new requirement is the need for a "letter of clear standing" from the last nursing institution attended or, for those currently employed, clearance from the head of nursing services.

GNAN President Ojo Opeyemi also confirmed the portal's reopening but highlighted that the association is reviewing some of the new guidelines, which have sparked complaints from some nurses.

Before this, many Nigerian nurses had been stranded both at home and abroad due to the portal's prolonged closure. Some faced the risk of deportation from countries like the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K., which had stopped accepting Nigerian nursing certificates due to the inability to verify them. This situation had worsened as over 42,000 nurses left Nigeria between 2020 and 2023, with 15,000 nurses emigrating in 2023 alone, seeking better opportunities abroad. Concerns over poor healthcare infrastructure, inadequate funding, and poor working conditions have fueled this exodus.

In response to the brain drain, the NMCN introduced revised guidelines in February 2024, requiring applicants seeking verification to foreign nursing boards to have two years of post-qualification experience and pay a non-refundable application fee. However, many stakeholders in the healthcare sector expressed their concerns, calling these new policies a violation of human rights.