No fewer than eight nurses in the country have dragged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the health minister to the National Industrial Court, Abuja, over a new circular stipulating new certificate verification guidelines for nurses.

On February 7, the NMCN issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting the verification of certificates for nurses and midwives wishing to go abroad to seek better work opportunities.

The council stated that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practising licence.

This means they must work in the country for at least two years before seeking greener pastures abroad.

The new guidelines came into force on March 1.

Miffed by this, nurses in Abuja and Lagos protested, demanding the reversal of the new guidelines. 

Some nurses took it a step further and filed the suit at the National Industry Court, Abuja.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Nigeria registrar, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Attorney General of the Federation are listed as defendants in the suits.

When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel to the complaints, Ode Evans, told the court that he had just received the preliminary objection filled by the first and second defendants in court.

Mr Evans urged the court for an adjournment to enable him to peruse the processes to respond appropriately.

“I confirm the receipt of the application of the first and second defendants this morning. We shall be asking for a date to enable us to file our responses,” added Mr Evans.

Following no objection from the defendants, the judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, adjourned the matter until May 20 for a hearing.

The judge ordered that hearing notices be served to the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General of the Federation, who had no legal representation in court.

The complaints in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/ 76/2024 are Desmond Aigbe, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Osemwengie Osagie, Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode and Olumide Olurankinse.

They are urging the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from implementing the NMCN circular pending the suit’s determination. The nurses are also praying the court to suspend the commencement of the new guidelines.

(NAN)