Posted on: Fri 01-03-2024

Aggrieved nurses, under the auspices of Incorporated Trustees of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association, have dragged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to court over its recent circular for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives to foreign nursing boards or councils.

Joined in the suit as 2nd defendant is the Registrar/Secretary General of NMCN, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar.

The controversial circular, among other things, provides that “eligible applicants must have a minimum of two (2) years post qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license. Any application with a provisional license shall be rejected out rightly.

“The council shall request a letter of Good Standing from the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended, and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NMCN. Please note that the Council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”

The aggrieved nurses have approached a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, seeking a judicial interpretation of Faruk’s action. The suit, with No FHC/E/CS/22/2024, was filed by the counsel to the plaintiffs, Chijioke Ezeh.

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