Outrage as Nigerian Nursing Council Demands Two-Year Experience for Overseas Practice

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, on Wednesday, announced revised guidelines and requirements for individuals applying for certificate verification with foreign nursing boards/councils.

Applicants are now required by the council to have at least two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of their permanent practising licence.

The revised guidelines for verification of certificates was signed by the Registrar/Secretary General of NMCN, Dr. Faruk  Abubakar, and posted on the council’s X page on Wednesday.

It read, “Applicants are to visit https://licence.nmcn.gov.ng/ and login to initiate verification application by clicking on the verification application link.

“A non-refundable fee per application shall be paid for verification to Foreign Boards of Nursing as specified on the portal. This shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work and Foreign Board.

“Eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of permanent practising licence. Any application with provisional licence shall be rejected outrightly.

“The council shall request a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Please note that council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”

In addition to the mentioned requirements, NMCN now mandates that applicants possess an active practising licence that is valid for at least six more months.

However, the revised guidelines have sparked a wave of anger on social media.

Nurses and health workers have condemned it as a clear infringement on basic human rights.