Some nurses in the country has taken legal action against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the Minister of Health, and six others over new certificate verification guidelines issued by the Council.
The NMCN issued a circular on February 7, 2024, revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.
Based on the new guidelines, applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license. These guidelines became effective on March 1, 2024.
It’s been gathered by Hobnob News reports that Protests have erupted among nurses in Abuja and Lagos, demanding the reversal of the new guidelines.
Subsequently, some aggrieved nurses have filed a lawsuit against the Registrar of NMCN, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The complainants urged the court to suspend the policy and restrain the defendants from implementing the NMCN circular pending the determination of the suit.
They seek interlocutory orders to halt the commencement of the revised guidelines and prevent any actions that may hinder nurses’ constitutional rights and freedom to seek career opportunities abroad. Additionally, they request the court to mandate the defendants to continue verifying certificates requested by applicants within seven days pending the determination of the lawsuit.
While the proceedings was going on, on Wednesday, the counsel for the complainants requested an adjournment to respond to the preliminary objection filed by the first and second defendants.
Apparently, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae granted the adjournment and scheduled the matter for hearing on May 20. She also ordered that the hearing notice be served on the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation, who were not represented in court.
HOBNOB NEWS
