The suspension of license verification services by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has caused significant disruption for Nigerian nurses seeking to work abroad.
The council’s portal, crucial for verifying the credentials of nurses practicing in Nigeria, was abruptly closed on December 22, 2023, by order of the Registrar of NMCN. Since then, many Nigerian nurses have found their applications to work overseas rejected, particularly in countries like the United States and Canada.
A press statement issued during the initial closure read, “I am directed by the Registrar/CEO, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to inform you to close the verification application portal by 4.00pm today being 22 December, 2023. Notice for re-opening of the verification portal will be communicated to you in due course.”
Despite a brief reopening of the portal on February 7, 2024, the continued suspension has left hundreds of nurses stranded, unable to secure employment opportunities abroad. According to reports, the closure has created a significant backlog, with numerous applications pending due to the lack of verification.
The situation has drawn widespread criticism from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which described the indefinite suspension of license verification services as a severe violation of nurses’ rights. In a statement shared on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the NMA expressed deep concern over the matter, emphasizing the negative impact on Nigerian nurses.
“Nigerian Doctors received, with a heavy heart, the news that your office gave a directive to The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to suspend the license verification services for Nurses indefinitely,” the statement read. “The implication is that Nigerian Nurses are no longer able to leave the country and practice nursing in foreign countries. If this is true, this will be the latest move in the country’s efforts to restrict migration of health workers.”
The association went on to liken the situation to a form of “mass kidnapping,” stating, “If you sanctioned this action truly, the implication is that Nigerian Government will now hold Nigerian Nurses hostage in their own country, making it the largest kidnapping den in human history. This is an unprecedented infringement of Nurses’ fundamental human rights.”
Internationally, the suspension has led to Nigerian applicants being rejected by health boards in the United States and Canada. The Texas Board of Nursing, in a letter dated August 15, 2024, informed a Nigerian applicant that their application could not proceed due to the unavailability of license verification from the NMCN. The letter stated, “The Nigeria NMC has notified us that they have stopped sending verifications indefinitely. The Board of Nursing requires that Nigerian applicants have a current, unexpired verification of licensure from Nigeria NMC on file in order to move forward with their application for licensure.”
Similarly, Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Canada informed another Nigerian applicant that their job offer could not be finalized until the NMCN resumes its verification services. “We appreciate your interest in Alberta Health Services… We will not be able to move forward with offering you a job until the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) reopens for license verification,” AHS wrote.
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The ongoing suspension of the NMCN portal has created uncertainty and frustration for Nigerian nurses, many of whom are now unable to pursue their careers abroad due to the administrative deadlock.
