Nurses sue council, health minister over new certificate verification guidelines

Some nurses have sued the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) over the new verification certification guidelines released by the body.

The NMCN had announced that applicants seeking the verification of certificates to foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years post qualification experience.

The council also said applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee per application for verification to foreign boards of nursing as specified on its portal.

The suit marked NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024 was filed before the national industrial court in Abuja.

Listed as defendants in the suits are the registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council Nigeria; the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; coordinating minister of health and social welfare; federal ministry of health and the attorney-general of the federation.

The plaintiffs are Desmond Aigbe, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Osemwengie Osagie, Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode and Olumide Olurankinse.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from implementing the NMCN circular proposed to take effect from March 7 pending the determination of the suit.

They also seek “an interlocutory order restraining the defendants, their partners, parastatals, subjects, counterparts. agents, servants, privies, assigns, or whoever, acting for with or on behalf of the defendants from taking any further step that may hinder, restrict, or infringe on the constitutional rights and freedom of nurses and midwives in Nigeria from emigrating to another country to seek better career opportunities and training abroad”.

“An interlocutory order of the court mandating the Registrar and NMCN  to continue to carry out verification of certificates or any documents requested by the applicants, other intending colleagues, and other members of the nursing and midwifery profession within seven days from the date of such application pending the hearing and determination of the suit,” the suit reads. 

When the matter was called on Wednesday, Ode Evans, counsel to the plaintiffs, told the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filled by the first and second defendants in court.

Evans prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to peruse the processes to give an appropriate response.

Following no objection from the defendants, Osatohanmwen  Obaseki-Osaghae, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter until May 20 for hearing.

The judge also ordered that hearing notices be served on the ministry of health and the attorney-general of the federation, who had no legal representation in court.