The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) declared on Tuesday that it is committed to ensuring the timely and proper resolution of concerns raised by its members.
The association’s stance comes in the wake of protests staged by nurses under its umbrella on Monday at the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s offices in Abuja and Lagos.
The protests were fueled by grievances related to perceived hindrances to career opportunities, with nurses urging the council to address issues such as welfare, salary scale, staffing shortages, and other rights.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) had recently revised its certificate verification guidelines, stipulating that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards must have two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license.
NANNM, being the representative body for professional nurses and midwives, issued a circular dated February 13th, 2024, acknowledging the concerns raised by its members.
The circular, signed by the General Secretary of NANNM, Thomas Shettima, was addressed to various entities, including state secretaries/PROs, NANNM state councils, FCT Abuja, NANNM Secretaries, and NANNM specialty groups.
While expressing awareness of the complaints, the circular expressed optimism that relevant government agencies involved in the matter would address and resolve most of the nurses’ issues and concerns before the slated implementation of the revised guidelines on March 1st, 2024.
The association remains committed to advocating for the welfare and rights of its members.