Nurses across Nigeria are in a legal battle against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) due to a recent directive they find problematic. This directive requires nurses and midwives seeking employment abroad to verify their qualifications with foreign nursing boards. Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, the Registrar/Secretary General of the NMCN, is also a defendant in this legal action.
Issued by Dr. Faruk on February 7, 2024, the directive has sparked a range of reactions within the nursing community and among other stakeholders. Among its key provisions, the directive mandates that nurses must possess at least two years of post-qualification experience and hold a permanent practicing license. Additionally, it demands letters of Good Standing from the applicant’s current workplace and the institution where they received their nursing training to be sent directly to the Registrar/CEO of the NMCN.
In response to this directive, a group of aggrieved nurses, represented by the Incorporated Trustees of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association, has decided to take legal action. They seek judicial intervention to declare that neither Dr. Faruk nor the NMCN have the authority to issue directives contradicting established laws and regulations. Additionally, they request the court to nullify the directive and prohibit Dr. Faruk from issuing similar directives in the future.
Furthermore, the nurses are seeking compensation of five million Naira for the difficulties and distress caused by this directive. As of now, a specific date for the court hearing has not been scheduled.
In explaining their decision to pursue legal action, the nurses’ legal representative, Barr Chijioke Ezeh, emphasizes that they believe Dr. Faruk’s directive unfairly favors doctors over nurses and infringes upon their rights, including their freedom to associate with professional groups without interference.
