The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in a memo dated February 7, 2024, announced the review of the guidelines for verification of certificates by nurses and midwives.
The Bayelsa State Nurses Forum has refuted the notion of brain drain both in the state and Nigeria as a whole and demanded an immediate reversal of the verification policies.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in a memo dated February 7, 2024, announced the review of the guidelines for verification of certificates by nurses and midwives.
The NMCN in the memo said eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence.
The memo was addressed to all state ministries of health, university teaching hospitals, specialist and federal medical centres, NANNM headquarters, universities offering nursing programmes, colleges of nursing sciences, schools of nursing and midwifery, all post-basic nursing programmes, and all nursing and midwifery councils’ zonal offices.
The new guidelines immediately triggered protest by nurses across the country, against the new verification guidelines, asking the council to reverse the new guidelines within 48 hours.
However, reacting to the new guidelines, the Bayelsa State Nurses Forum stated that as certified nurses, they shouldn’t be subject to ridicule because nurses are pitching tent where their profession is respected and well paid for.
In a statement issued on Thursday, jointly signed by Coordinator and Co-coordinator, Bright Tuebi and Alabo Emmanuel respectively, the Forum stated, “We refute the notion of brain-drain both in Bayelsa state and Nigeria as a whole.”
It, however, noted that should such a phenomenon exist, the state or federal government should initiate widespread employment “rather than block verification portal to deny nurses jobs abroad”, which are not appreciated in Nigeria.
“Additionally, we object to the requirement of two years post-qualification experience by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. We are certified nurses and shouldn’t be subject to ridicule because nurses are pitching tent where their profession is respected and well paid for.”
The Forum described it as a shame that the government decided to block job opportunities rather than “increase our working condition, welfare, hazard allowance and improve the healthcare system In Nigeria.
“We kick against all insensitive, disrespectful and draconian verification rule in the circular released by the NMCN
“We await swift response or the government should expect more resistance from Nigerian Nurses nationwide.” (Sahara Reporters)
To Advertise or Publish a Story on NaijaLiveTv:
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
