Controversial circular: Why nurses dragged NMCN, Registrar to court – UGONSA

The National Administrative Council, NAC, of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association, UGONSA, commonly known as Graduate Nurses Association of Nigeria, GNAN, has restated its commitment towards a stability in the health sector.

the nurses are before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, seeking a judicial interpretation of the circular issued by the Registrar/Secretary General of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar on the revised guidelines for verification of certificates.

But in a letter of clarification sent to the National President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Michael Nnachi Ekuma, UGONSA said it had no intention to engage or support any action by any organisation, group or individual that was capable of forestalling the progress, or, causing disharmony in the nursing profession or her members in Nigeria.

In the letter signed by its National President, Nurse Ojo Opeyemi and the National Secretary, Nurse Philip O. Eteng, they recalled that following the release of the said circular, “there was a general palpable outcry from almost all Nigerian Nurses and Midwives both in Nigeria and in diaspora, rejecting and condemning the content of the circular deemed as ‘restrictive and arbitrary’.

“Nurses and all the notable nursing associations were unanimous in calling for the nullification of the circular and reverting to the status quo ante. While some called for complete nullification of the guidelines, other groups took to the street to demonstrate their total condemnation and rejection of the circular.”

The Association said it quickly called the attention of the Registrar of the NMCN through a letter, Ref. No. UG/NAT/24/NMCN/LVGP/01, dated 9th February, 2024, appealing to the Council for reconsideration of the new nursing registration verification policy, stating the implications of the guidelines to Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Nursing Profession at large.

“Sir, to demonstrate the level at which the NMCN’s Registrar treated UGONSA with ignominy and disdain, it may interest you to know that the Council has till this day refused to acknowledge the receipt of our appeal letter or reply to it.

“Given the promptness of the circular’s effective date of implementation, the association being a law-abiding organization, was left with no choice than to seek legal redress by approaching the Court. Specifically, it prayed the court to compel the NMCN to suspend the implementation of the circular pending when the contending issues in the circular are internally addressed.

“Sir, the question that begged for an answer is, by stipulating such guidelines/requirements by the Council, was the Council actually acting in the best interest of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and of the Profession, or were they under ‘external pressure’ to act?

“By approaching the court, UGONSA acted within the bounds of the law to protect the fundamental human rights of her members that the Council was about to infringe upon through her circular.

“Therefore, rather than come under attack or condemnation, UGONSA deserved great accolades from the NMCN for saving it from itself and bailing it out of the ostensible perceived external pressure.

“UGONSA equally deserve an accolade from NANNM for saving NANNM’s face as it was obvious that NANNM, a critical stakeholder, was equally humiliated by the council Registrar by being kept in the dark and releasing such a critical circular without NANNM’s knowledge and inputs.”

They declared that the association could not fold its hands and watch “this perceived external pressure or actors who are bent at stagnating the future of Nigerian nurse” in the name of curbing brain drain, or, being enslaved in the name of obtaining a letter of ‘Good Standing from their CEOs’, and the schools they graduated from.

“These new measures are needless bottle neck to nurses that the council itself had previously certified and inducted into the profession after being found worthy in learning and in character”.

They further stated that the massive outcry, protest and wide condemnation of the circular “by both Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, those in diaspora, and even the National Assembly (the House of Representatives), is a clear signal that the circular was ill-conceived, provocative, retrogressive with malicious intent.

“Kindly note that the Council has suspended the entire verification exercise, instead of reverting to the status quo ante, against the progress of Nigeria nurses.

“We, therefore, implore you to advise the Council to consult widely by engaging all stakeholders, and if possible call for an in-house hearing on the matter, to articulate the concerns of Nigerian Nurses, and come out with acceptable guidelines for certificate(s) verification devoid of any retrogressive content.

“After such a consensus has been reached amicably, UGONSA shall approach the Court to withdraw the case for in-house settlement.”