Abuja Nurses Protest New Certification Guidelines, Demand Improved Welfare
By Matthew Eloyi
Nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Abuja chapter, staged a protest on Monday against the newly released verification certification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Expressing dissatisfaction, they accused the council of impeding their career advancement and called for attention to various concerns including welfare, salary scale, and staff shortages.
The demonstration, held at the NMCN’s office in Abuja saw nurses rallying against the guidelines outlined in a circular issued by the council on February 7, 2024.
According to the circular signed by the Registrar of the Council, Dr Faruk Abubakar, applicants must fulfil specific criteria including a minimum of two years post-qualification experience, possession of an active practising license, and submission of a letter of good standing from relevant institutions.
The council also stated that verification processing would take a minimum of six months, with implementation set for March 1, 2024.
During the protest, nurses brandished placards with messages demanding action on unemployment, quackery, and overall welfare improvement. Some of the inscriptions included “Allow nurses to breathe,” “Provide job security,” “Address unemployment among nurses,” “Protect nurses, protect healthcare,” and “#No to verification rules.”
The nurses’ demonstration underscores their determination to challenge the new guidelines and advocate for their rights and well-being within the healthcare sector.