The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives is advising its members who are unhappy about the new verification guidelines by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to retract their lawsuit. The association believes that this step is crucial to allow the NANNM leadership to effectively deal with any ongoing issues.

Recently, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria announced that individuals applying for certificate verification to foreign nursing boards must have at least two years of post-qualification experience.

Moreover, applicants are obligated to pay a specified non-refundable fee for each verification application to foreign nursing boards through the council’s portal.

However, some discontented nurses took legal action against several parties, including the Registrar and the Council itself, as well as government health officials and the Attorney General of the Federation before the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

The lawsuit (NICN/ABJ/76/2024) was brought by Desmond Aigbe, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Osemwengie Osagie, Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse. They sought a court order to halt the implementation of the new circular until the case is resolved.

Furthermore, the nurses asked the court to postpone the enforcement of the new guidelines. During an event commemorating the 2024 International Day of the Midwives and Nurses Week, the President of NANNM, Michael Nnachi, mentioned that the conference would delve into critical issues affecting the members and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Nnachi mentioned ,“We will collectively use this opportunity to discuss critical matters that affect NANNM members, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, our association, and other inherent challenges (Verification exercise, NANNM membership management system, strategic plan, etc.) to come up with lasting solutions.

“I call on members of NANNM or any group of Nurses and Midwives whatever name it seeks to be addressed, who have taken the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria or National Association of Nigeria of Nurses and Midwives to court for any reason(s) to promptly withdraw the matter to give room for the leadership of NANNM to completely address any lingering challenges affecting Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, to allow unity and progress in our valued profession. When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.”

The association is also calling on the Federal government to introduce a special pay scheme, known as the Enhanced Nurses Salary Structure, which would provide a long-overdue and significant salary increase for nurses.

“The leadership of NANNM is aware of the stressful conditions the nurses and midwives are passing through in their various areas of practice characterised by increased workload, indecent work environment, poor compensation, and consequently brain drain.

“To address the gap, Nigeria Nurses and Midwives passionately demand an ENSS to address the issue of migration. This situation has created more crisis and division among nurses and midwives in the country. This situation should not be allowed to degenerate into avoidable industry action.

“While we await the government’s positive action on our demands as already submitted to the government, I urge Nigeria Nurses and Midwives to continue to demonstrate commitment, integrity, and productivity through hard work, perseverance, and devotion in service delivery,” Nnachi pinpointed.