Nurses sue health minister, others over new guidelines

Some nurses in the country have sued the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the Minister of Health, among others over the new certificate verification guidelines, National Daily Newspaper gathered.

It will be recalled that the NMCN had on February 7, 2024, issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.

According to the council, applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practising licence.

The new guidelines came into force on March 1, 2024, leading to protests by nurses in Abuja and Lagos to demand the reversal of the new guidelines.

However, National Daily Newspaper also gathered  that some dissatisfied nurses, on behalf of their colleagues, dragged 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 min before the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.

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The complainants in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024, are Desmond Aigbe; Kelvin Ossai; Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro; Tamunoibi Berry; Osemwengie Osagie; Abiola Olaniyan; Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse.

The complainants are urging the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from implementing the NMCN circular pending the determination of the suit.

The nurses also urged the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.

The reliefs sought partly read: “An interlocutory order restraining suspending the commencement of the 2nd Defendant” “REVISED GUIDELINES FOR VERIFICATION OF CERTIFICATE(S) WITH THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA” earlier proposed to take effect from the 7th of March, 2024, as indicated on the 2nd Defendant’s circular dated 7th February, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants/Applicants Originating Summons in this suit, National Daily Newspaper gathered.