The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has introduced revised guidelines and requirements for individuals applying for certificate verification with foreign nursing boards/councils, News About Nigeria reports.
The new guidelines, posted on the council’s X page on Wednesday, include a requirement for applicants to have a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of their permanent practicing licence.
According to the guidelines, applicants need to visit the council’s portal and log in to initiate the verification application, with a non-refundable fee per application covering courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work, and the foreign board.
The council requires that eligible applicants have at least two years of post-qualification experience, rejecting outright any application with a provisional licence.
Additionally, the NMCN now mandates that applicants possess an active practicing licence valid for at least six more months.
The council will request a letter of good standing from the CEO of the applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended, adding that such letters should not be submitted by the applicants.
The revised guidelines have sparked backlash on social media, with nurses and health workers condemning them as a clear infringement on basic human rights.
Earlier on Wednesday, nurses and midwives expressed frustration over the deactivation of the NMCN verification portal since December 2023.
They claimed that the council’s decision to deactivate the portal was a deliberate move to hinder their ability to explore new career prospects.
