The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, February 27, called for an immediate halt to the implementation of the certificate verification guidelines for nurses, slated to take effect from Thursday, March 1, 2024, as proposed by the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
Responding to a motion of urgent public importance brought forward by Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), the House instructed its Health Institutions Committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter and furnish the House with a report.
Umoh, presenting the motion, disclosed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, through a memo dated February 7, introduced new guidelines for certifying practicing nurses in the country.
He highlighted that the National Assembly’s enactment of the Nursing and Midwifery (Registration, etc.) Act, Cap. N143, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, was designed to regulate and oversee the practice of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria.
The legislator noted that the council had issued revised guidelines for certificate verification, scheduled to become effective on March 1, 2024.
These guidelines mandate applicants to possess a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience, obtain letters of good standing from their place of work and last training institution, and undergo a processing period of no less than six months.
Umoh pointed out that the implementation of these revised guidelines has triggered concerns, protests, and strong opposition from health professionals, spearheaded by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives.
He said: “Verification of certificates is to confirm and authenticate an already existing certificate issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, therefore the requirement for two years post-qualification experience before verification of certificate is unreasonable, arbitrary and unfair, as it may, among other things, restrict the freedom of nurses seeking education or additional skills and training in foreign universities.
“The National Assembly is the body empowered by the Constitution to make laws for the country, and the requirement of two years post-qualification experience by the Nursing and Midwifery Council is to legislate through the back door, and therefore a usurpation of the powers of the National Assembly.
“The requirement that applicants for verification must obtain a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant’s place of work is capable of creating forced labour and modern slavery as the applicant will be forced to be subject to the whims and caprices of applicant’s employer.”
