As a result of the new certificate verification rules, some nurses in Nigeria has sue the Minister of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
The new guideline was enforced on March 1, 2024 which stated that applicants who seek their certificate from international nursing boards and councils must possess two years post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practising license.
This triggered protests in Abuja and Lagos. The nurses, as a result have filed a lawsuit and dragged the Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Minister of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the complainants in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/76/2024 are Desmond Aigbe, Osemwengie Osagie, Olumide Olurankinse, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Abiola Olaniyan, and Idowu Olabode.
The nurses are pleading with the court to prevent the defendants or their representatives from enforcing the NMCN circular while the lawsuit is being reviewed and the new guideline to be implemented should be postpone.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Ode Evans, also told the court during the hearing on Wednesday that the court should adjourn the case to enable him reply the applications as he only received the first and second defendants’ preliminary objections a short while ago.
Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, the judge has adjourned the case till May 20 for a hearing. Notice on the hearing is to be served to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation who were not represented by counsel in court.