In response to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s (NMCN) revised certificate verification guidelines issued on February 7, 2024, nurses across the country have taken legal action. The new regulations stipulate that candidates seeking certificate verification from international nursing boards must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of their permanent practicing license, effective March 1, 2024.
Consequently, nurses in Abuja and Lagos staged protests demanding the reversal of these guidelines. Dissatisfied nurses, acting on behalf of their colleagues, filed a lawsuit against the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.
The complainants in the suit, marked NICN/ABJ/76/2024, include Desmond Aigbe, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Osemwengie Osagie, Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse. They seek an interim injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from enforcing the NMCN circular pending the resolution of the suit. Additionally, they urge the court to suspend the implementation of the new guidelines.
Part of the reliefs sought include: restraining the commencement of the revised guidelines, preventing actions that may hinder nurses’ constitutional rights to seek better career opportunities abroad, and mandating the defendants to expedite the verification of certificates pending the determination of the suit.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel for the complainants, Ode Evans, informed the court of receiving the preliminary objection filed by the first and second defendants. He requested an adjournment to respond to their applications.
In response, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae granted the adjournment until May 20 for a hearing, ordering the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation to be served with hearing notices as they were not represented in court.
