By Felicia Udeji
Reports reveal that many Nigerian nurses abroad, including the United Kingdom and United States, had been forced to return to the country due to the sudden deactivation of the verification portal by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN.
Currently, healthcare workers are encountering hurdles in renewing their licences and meeting the regulatory requirements set by international bodies.
Already, some nurses without the necessary verification from the NMCN find themselves in violation of visa conditions and employment laws, resulting in legal consequences.
Among them is a nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid being ridicule
He recalled how he was thrilled to join the UK Trust, a prestigious healthcare organisation, to contribute his skills to the country’s medical community after moving from Nigeria in September 2023.
His hope was, however, dashed when the council deactivated the verification portal.
He claimed to have completed a series of exams and navigated the complex process of document checks, and all that remained was to get his pin as a registered nurse from the verification portal.
Desperate to resolve the issue, he said he reached out to the NMCN, hoping for assistance. However the council’s policy prevented any further verification on the closed portal.
The UK Trust, bound by its policies, reportedly terminated his employment due to his inability to meet the certification criteria.
He said, “The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal. My career is stagnated because the portal is closed. I’m in Nigeria now. I have gone to the nursing council on several occasions to tell them that even if they should write a letter of good standing and send it to them, they would be happy to acknowledge it. But my efforts were futile.”
Reacting to the reports, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Michael Nnachi, said the group had engaged the government on several demands, including the reopening of the portal.
He noted that a committee was recently formed to review ongoing discussions.
He said, “If we don’t receive a positive response soon, I can’t predict what will happen next. I believe the message we are sending is that we have engaged the government. I can’t give an exact date, whether tomorrow or the day after, but I know there is hope. I prefer not to speak beyond what I am authorised to say.
“I would advise our affected members to remain patient. We are deeply concerned about the difficulties they are facing, and we are not comfortable with the situation.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, has slammed the government for hindering the progress of Nigerians by restricting their opportunities abroad. He noted that it is an uncharitable act on the part of the govt.