The abrupt closure of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s (NMCN) verification portal in February has left Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad facing significant challenges.
With the portal inactive, healthcare professionals are struggling to renew their licenses and comply with the necessary regulatory requirements of foreign bodies, including those in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Many nurses, unable to verify their credentials, find themselves in breach of visa and employment conditions, leading to legal complications.
As a result, several nurses have been forced to return to Nigeria, some fearing their careers may never recover. One affected nurse, who requested anonymity, shared the emotional toll the situation has taken on him.
After moving to the UK in September 2023 and joining a prestigious healthcare organisation, he was left devastated when the portal closure interrupted his registration process.
He expressed deep frustration, recounting how all that remained was receiving his registered nurse pin from the NMCN portal.
Despite multiple attempts to seek assistance from the council, his efforts proved fruitless. “My career is at a standstill because the portal is closed. I’ve visited the nursing council several times, asking them to provide a letter of good standing, but nothing has changed. It’s a deeply frustrating situation,” he lamented.
The closure of the portal has affected nurses across various countries. In the UK, another Nigerian nurse, Ovie, spoke about how the delay has hindered her ability to register as a nurse, placing her future in jeopardy. “I came to the UK in February to pursue a nursing top-up programme with the aim of becoming a registered nurse here. However, the suspension of verification has left me in limbo. I cannot complete my registration, which limits my employment opportunities and affects my financial stability,” Ovie shared.
The uncertainty surrounding the portal’s reopening has also cast doubt over her immigration status, with her student visa nearing expiration. “Without registration, I won’t be able to continue working as a nurse, which may force me to return to Nigeria,” she added.
Similar frustrations are shared by Nigerian nurses in other parts of the world. In Saudi Arabia, a nurse named Hannah revealed that her plans to advance her career had been derailed by the portal shutdown. “This situation has left me in a state of despair. The threat of deportation is a constant worry,” she said.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has been engaging with the government to resolve the issue.
Its president, Michael Nnachi, confirmed that discussions are ongoing, though there is no clear timeline for reopening the portal. “We are aware of the challenges our members are facing, and we are pushing for a resolution. However, we must ask for patience while the government addresses the situation,” Nnachi stated.
NANNM’s Deputy National President, Abubakar Shehu, expressed dissatisfaction with the delay, questioning why only nurses have been impacted while other health professionals continue to migrate abroad without issue. Shehu also noted that the NMCN registrar had promised that the portal would soon be reopened, giving nurses some hope.
Civil society groups have also condemned the government’s handling of the situation. Debo Adeniran, president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, criticised the authorities for stifling the opportunities of Nigerian professionals abroad. “It is unfair to block our people from progressing in their careers, especially when they are bringing positive recognition to the country. The government should be supporting them, not hindering them,” Adeniran said.
(PUNCH)
Post A Comment: