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Nurses Threaten Legal Action Against Council Over Verification Guidelines

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2024

Some Nigerian nurses and midwives have threatened to take legal action against the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria over the new certificate verification guidelines.

The nurses, Desmond Aigbe, Kelvin Ossai, Catherine Olatunji-Kuyoro, Tamunoibi Berry, Osemwengie Osagie, Abiola Olaniyan, Idowu Olabode, and Olumide Olurankinse, disclosed this in a pre-action notice letter served by their counsel, Adelewa Williams & Partners.

The NMCN, in its revised guidelines, 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.

Following the new guidelines, nurses staged protests at the council’s offices in Abuja and Lagos, respectively, to express their displeasure over what they described as an attempt to hinder their freedom to pursue career opportunities, urging it to address nurses’ welfare, salary scale, shortage of workers, and other rights.

The pre-action letter which was addressed to the Registrar of the NMCN, Faruk Abubakar, and dated February 22, 2024, was signed by the Managing Director of Adelewa Williams & partners, Adelewa Williams.

The letter received by the Secretary-General to the Registrar of the council on February 23, 2024, was titled, ‘Pre-action notice: Notice to cease and desist from implementing the revised guidelines for verification of certificate(s) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria issued under the hand of the registrar of the council on February 7, 2024’.

The counsel for the nurses explained that the council had always regulated the verification process of Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives to which effect the guideline currently in force was issued on May 21, 2021, and provides for a three-stage process.

They, however, alleged that with the new verification process, an unemployed applicant cannot apply for verification of their certificate, since a letter of good standing must emanate from the applicant’s place of work.

They also stated that the council is setting the criteria for employment of Nigerian nurses by foreign employers and training institutions since the applicant must compulsorily obtain a letter of good standing from their place of work, a criterion that may not be requested by the foreign board(s).

The letter read, “The fate of the applicant is placed in the hands of the chief executive officer of the applicant’s place(s) of work, and where such officer refuses to give such letter, the applicant will be left with no remedy.

“This policy is in sharp conflict with the council’s policy of mandatory continuing education programmes for nurses and midwives wherein healthcare practitioners are enjoined to frequently update the knowledge in the healthcare field with a view to enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery.

“Evidently, the ‘revised guidelines’ for verification is unconstitutional, arbitrary in nature, designed in bad faith and against the interest of the nursing and midwifery profession and its practitioners, and in utter disregard of the fundamental human rights of Nigerian trained nurses and midwives as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as well the Nurses and Midwifery Act of Nigeria Act in a bid to prevent the migration of Nigerian trained nurses and midwives from pursuing career and training opportunities in a foreign land which in effect infringes the Constitutional rights to freedom of movement of these Nigerian trained nurses and midwives.”

“Furthermore, our client demands that the council issue a memo retracting the memo of February 7, 2024, within 72 hours of service of this notice on the council. Failure upon which an action shall be instituted against the council seeking the nullification of the repugnant revised guidelines,” it added.

Related Topics:Lagos Nurses Nurse Nurses verification

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Otuaro Pledges To Expand PAP Scholarship As Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has expressed his unwavering commitment to expanding the PAP scholarship scheme.

The PAP boss made the pledge at a graduation reception for nine students who were awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by PAP in universities in the United Kingdom.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, said the successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.

According to the statement, they graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.

Otuaro disclosed in the statement that 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.

According to Otuaro, the expansion of the scholarship scheme is aimed at creating more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.

Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.

He said under his administration, 7700 students have been so far deployed for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.

According to him, aince he took over, he has deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.

According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.

The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.

“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”

Otuaro, who congratulated the master’s graduates on their successful graduation, stressed that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.

He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.

“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.

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Okpebholo Declares Edo Business-friendly

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Friday declared the state as Edo business-friendly environment and ready to welcome any investor to the state.

The governor spoke when he played host to members of the South – South Coalition of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (COSSCIMA).

The governor, who received his guests through the Office of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, said his administration has provided the enabling environment for investors to promote their businesses.

The governor commended the COSSCIMA for deeming it fit to choose the stata as host to the annual general meeting of the body.

“It is not surprising that you pick the state as a choice because we have provided the enabling environment by investing in infrastructure and reducing insecurity to the barest minimum.

“So, we assured potential investors that the state is safe, secured for all to come and invest,” he stated.

Also speaking, Hon. Omoh Anabor, Commissioner for Business, Trade, and Investment, said that the state was ready to partner any firm.

Earlier in his address, President of COSSCIMA, Hon. Indutimi komonibo said, “The Edo State Governor is doing a great job.

He, however, pointed out that nonetheless reiterated, “No government can succeed without partnering with the organized private sector.”

“We seek collaboration wherever we go. We carry the emblem of national development. Investors are looking for where their business will thrive. We understand the language of the business.”

He stated that COSSCIMA membership cut across the six Chambers of Commerce that make up the South-South states of the federation.

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Oba Of Benin Suspends Priest, Reaffirms Appointment Of Okao

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare the second, has suspended the traditional priest of Uniamen Village, Chief Sunday Sidney Enoma as the Ohen-Ovia of Unuamen for violating the custom and traditional of Benin.

The Monarch reaffirmed Chief Kingsley Igbinosa as the Okao (traditional head) of Unuamen Village, in Ovia North East local Government Area of Edo State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Oba described the claim by the suspended Ohen of Unuamen that he is the one who usually installs the Okao of the village as baseless, unfounded and abominable.

The Benin Monarch noted that all Chieftaincy titles in Benin kingdom are conferred by the Oba.