Many nurses, unable to secure necessary verification from the NMCN, find themselves in breach of visa conditions and employment laws, leading to legal challenges.
Some Nigerian nurses and midwives working in the United Kingdom and the United States have been forced back to Nigeria and left in distress by the abrupt shutdown of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria's (NMCN) verification portal in February by the Nigerian government.
The healthcare professionals are now struggling to renew their licenses and fulfill international regulatory requirements.
Many nurses, unable to secure necessary verification from the NMCN, find themselves in breach of visa conditions and employment laws, leading to legal challenges.
The PUNCH reports that several nurses, particularly in the UK and the US, have been forced to return to Nigeria due to the situation.
One nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his experience.
Having relocated to the UK in September 2023 to join a prestigious healthcare organization, he had passed various exams and completed documentation processes, with only the NMCN portal verification remaining for him to receive his registration pin.
However, the closure of the portal dashed his hopes, and his employment was terminated due to his inability to meet certification requirements.
Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue with the NMCN, including offering alternative solutions, his efforts were in vain.
He expressed deep frustration, stating, "The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal. My career is stagnated."
Another nurse, identified simply as Ovie, who is currently in the UK, voiced similar concerns.
Having moved to the UK to pursue a nursing top-up programme, her plans to work part-time as a nurse were derailed by the portal's closure, preventing her from completing the verification process.
The delay has left her uncertain about her future, as her student visa nears expiration, with the threat of deportation looming.
A nurse in Saudi Arabia, identified as Hannah, also expressed her despair. After relocating in 2023 to practise nursing, she now faces an uncertain future, with the risk of deportation weighing heavily on her.
Michael Nnachi, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, acknowledged the issue and said that the association had been in discussions with the government to resolve the matter.
A committee was formed to review the situation, and while Nnachi remained hopeful, he urged affected members to remain patient.
He expressed concerns that even if agreements with the government were reached, they often failed to deliver on their promises.
The Deputy National President of the association, Abubakar Shehu, also expressed frustration over the delay.
He criticised the government's handling of the portal closure, noting that other healthcare professionals such as doctors and pharmacists were not facing the same challenges as nurses.
Despite assurances from the NMCN registrar that the portal would soon reopen, Shehu emphasised the negative impact the closure had on Nigerian nurses seeking opportunities abroad.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the NMCN verification process has had severe implications for Nigerian nurses abroad, with many facing legal, financial, and emotional challenges as they await the reopening of the portal.
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