Nurses in Lagos State, both from government-owned and private hospitals, have protested against new guidelines for certificate verification.
Recall that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria revised the guidelines in a memo dated February 7, 2024. The memo stated that eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience for a permanent practicing license.
The memo triggered discontent among nurses nationwide. The Naija Nurses Forum, representing the nurses, expressed displeasure, urging the Federal Government to reopen the verification portal unconditionally.
They demanded a reversal of the guidelines within 48 hours, staging a protest on Lagos streets from Harvey Road to UNILAG Road, to Neuropsychiatrist Hospital, Yaba.
During the demonstration which was monitored by PUNCH Healthwise, nurses carried placards with messages like “We no gree for NMCN; free Nigeria Nurses” and “Nurses no be slaves, No to a letter of good standing from anybody.”
The coordinator of the forum, Thomas Abiodun, criticized the guidelines, calling them an infringement on nurses’ rights and embarrassing to the profession.
“We are saying no to this and we want the government to reverse this within 48 hours. We want them to revisit these guidelines, it is wrong and wicked,” Abiodun urged.