Janet Ogundepo
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has urged the Federal Government to actively hire and provide automatic employment to newly qualified nurses and midwives as a strategy to combat the brain drain currently affecting the health sector.
The association made this call in a recent presentation to the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions.
In a statement obtained by PUNCH Healthwise about the presentation, NANNM expressed its concerns and stance about the revised certificate verification guidelines.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that in February 2024, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria revised the certification verification and license approval guidelines for nurses and midwives.
Nurses in Abuja protest NMCN new certificate verification guidelines – Healthwise (punchng.com)
The revised guidelines stipulate that the eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post-qualification experience from the date of their permanent practising licence issuance.
Also, applicants are required to “request a letter of good standing from the chief executive officer of the 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, NMCN. Please note that the council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”
The directive sparked multiple protests at NMCN offices in Abuja and Lagos and some aggrieved nurses took legal action, challenging the revised verification guidelines in court.
Also, NANNM, the umbrella body of registered and licensed nurses and midwives, protested these directives, describing them as an attempt to impede the freedom of movement and career progression of nurses and midwives.
Furthermore, the presentation, signed by NANNM’s General Secretary, Thomas Shettima, and shared with PUNCH Healthwise by NANNM’s Lagos State Chapter Chairman, Christianah Adeboboye, called for a revision of several areas in the new verification guidelines.
NANNM recommended a more streamlined and efficient verification process to prevent unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
“NANNM hereby recommends the following to address the sensitive items in the guidelines: Item 3 of the new verification policy stipulates a minimum of two years after qualification from the day the permanent practising licence is issued: NANNM views this item as a stringent measure against Nigeria Nurses and Midwives and advocates for the streamlined, transparent and efficient verification process to ensure Nurses are not subjected to unnecessary bureaucratic delays and harsh policies. This will help maintain professional mobility and reduce frustration among Nurses seeking international employment.
“We therefore recommend that the item be stepped down,” it stated.
The association further proposed that the requirement for a letter from the last training institution be removed, arguing that the NMCN was capable of assessing the academic records of qualified nurses and midwives.
They also demanded that the “letter of good standing” should be issued by the head of nursing services at the applicant’s place of work.
NANNM further proposed, “Item 7A of the revised guidelines states that the processing of verification application takes a minimum of six months. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is a well-digitalised government agency that speeds up processes; given the above, NANNM recommends a processing period of four weeks.”
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise on the issue, NANNM’s Lagos State Chairman decried the increased workload on nurses and midwives due to the mass exodus of healthcare professionals.
She revealed that between 2021 and 2023, over 43,000 nurses and midwives left the country, with 15,000 departing in 2023 alone.
“For Nurses, the nurse-patient ratio has increased tremendously to an unacceptable value of about 1:2000. Nurses experience work overload resulting in brain drain, job dissatisfaction, low productivity, poor health, and even short life span. Most of our families have been negatively affected due to work overload and challenges experienced by our nurses at work,” Adeboboye said.
To address these challenges, NANNM advocated for the automatic employment of newly qualified nurses and midwives and demanded a seat at the negotiation table in drafting fair, practical and workable policies for its members.
The association further stated that it was ready to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, NMCN and the House Committee on Health Institutions to develop and implement new regulations.
It added, “NANNM recommends aggressive employment of Nurses and Midwives and automatic employment of newly qualified Nurses and Midwives by the Government.
“Conclusively, NANNM is ready and willing to collaborate with FMOH, NMCN, the chairman and members of the house committee on health institutions to ensure improved healthcare delivery and health outcomes in Nigeria.”
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