The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its verification portal for nurses and midwives, allowing them to once again submit their verification requests through the council’s website.
Recent checks on the NMCN website on Saturday revealed that the verification portal is now functional.
The portal now displays a message stating, “Good news, verification requests are back online,” and further notes that the expiration dates for renewal applications will now be calculated based on the application date.
A confirmation of the portal’s reopening was received on Friday. Anthony Ijeoma, a nurse affiliated with Nursingworld Nigeria, also affirmed the reactivation. He expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in making this possible, and commended the NMCN for reopening the verification portal to accommodate both domestic and international nurses.
Previously, the sudden deactivation of the portal in February had caused significant distress for numerous Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad. Without the required verification from NMCN, many nurses found themselves in violation of visa regulations and employment laws, leading to legal complications. This situation forced some nurses, including those in the UK and the US, to return to Nigeria.
Back in February, the NMCN released new guidelines for certificate verification requests. According to these guidelines, nurses and midwives were required to have at least two years of post-qualification experience, starting from the issuance date of their permanent practicing license. Additionally, a letter of good standing was to be requested from the applicant’s employer and their last training institution, which had to be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO of NMCN.
These new regulations sparked widespread petitions from state councils and chapters of NANNM in various states including Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Ebonyi, and Kaduna, among others. Protests were organized, and some even took legal action against the NMCN. However, the court case was later withdrawn.
On February 27, the Nigerian House of Representatives called on the NMCN to suspend its new guidelines for issuing verification certificates to nurses and midwives, pointing out concerns over how the council’s actions might hinder professionals seeking career opportunities abroad.
The reactivation of the portal follows an appeal made by NANNM to the Federal Government, urging it to address pressing concerns of the nursing community. NANNM’s National President, Michael Nnachi, listed key demands, which included reopening the verification portal, ensuring the payment of salaries to NMCN staff, constituting the council’s board, and creating a special salary structure for nurses or reviewing their professional allowances.
This development marks a significant relief for Nigerian nurses and midwives, especially those aspiring to work internationally.
(PUNCH)
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