Following the new guidelines released by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Nigerian nurses from both public and private hospitals in Lagos State on Monday protested against the new guidelines.
The Lagos nurses under the aegis of Naija Nurses Forum tasked the Federal government to reopen the verification portal which was shut without conditions.
News About Nigeria recalls that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria had on February 7, 2024, issued a memo revealing the new changes in the guidelines for verification of certificates by nurses and midwives.
Among other criteria, the NMCN in the memo stated that eligible applicants (nurses) must have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence.
However, the nurses who expressed dissatisfaction over the demands of the new guidelines like their Abuja counterparts, noted that it is aimed at oppressing them and also crippling their careers.
During the protest which was carried out on Lagos streets from Harvey Road to UNILAG Road, to Neuropsychiatrist Hospital, Yaba, the aggrieved nurses, tasked the NMCN to reverse the new guidelines which are slated to kickstart on March 1, 2024, within the next 48 hours.
They further noted that they are not slaves and cannot accept the new guidelines which, according to them, are against their well-being as nurses and also targeted at frustrating them.
Also, the nurses in line with this year’s theme, “no gree for anybody,” were seen singing and carrying placards with different inscriptions like, “We no gree for NMCN free Nigeria Nurses,” “Let nurses breath, say no to NMCN verification rules,” “We are not here to fight we just want the policy withdrawn.”
