The suspension of license verification services by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has led to the rejection of applications from Nigerian nurses seeking employment abroad.
According to a report by SaharaReporters on August 16, hundreds of Nigerian nurses are currently stranded as a result of the continued closure of the NMCN’s online portal.
The portal, which is essential for verifying and registering nurses as qualified practitioners in Nigeria, was initially shut down by the NMCN leadership on December 22, 2023, without any clear explanation. Despite reopening on February 7, 2024, the portal remains inaccessible, effectively halting the verification process for new nurses and leaving many in a state of uncertainty.
This ongoing closure has particularly impacted nurses who applied to work in countries like the United States and Canada, with their applications being rejected due to the inability to complete the necessary license verification. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed deep regret over the situation, noting that numerous Nigerian nurses have been turned away globally because of the portal’s closure.
The NMA has criticized the directive from the House of Representatives that instructed the NMCN to indefinitely suspend license verification services. The association warned that this decision effectively prevents Nigerian nurses from practicing abroad, equating it to a form of “mass kidnapping” that confines these professionals within the country against their will.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the NMA described the situation as an “unprecedented infringement of nurses’ fundamental human rights.” The association further condemned the directive, demanding an urgent reconsideration and urging the government to respect the rights of Nigerian citizens to either live in or leave the country as they see fit.
The suspension has also affected Nigerian nurses’ applications to various international healthcare institutions. In a letter dated August 15, 2024, the Texas Board of Nursing informed a Nigerian applicant that it had halted the application process for all Nigerian candidates whose verification of licensure from the NMCN was missing or expired. The board stated that the NMCN had notified them of an indefinite suspension of verifications and emphasized that there is no alternative to having this verification on file.
Similarly, Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Canada informed a Nigerian applicant that it could not proceed with offering a job until the NMCN resumed license verification services. The College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador also rejected a Nigerian applicant’s submission, citing their inability to log in to the applicant’s account for verification due to the NMCN’s suspension of services.
This situation continues to have severe consequences for Nigerian nurses, who are being prevented from pursuing opportunities abroad due to the ongoing closure of the NMCN portal. The affected nurses, alongside their professional associations, are calling for immediate action to resolve the issue and reopen the verification process.
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