Feb. 14, 2024

The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) Faruk Abubakar says after a background search, about eight of the nurses found with fake documents in America last year were not in the council’s database, they hadn’t collected their verification letter or letter of good standing and they faked the documents.

Faruk’s comment came on the heels of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) protest against the new certification verification guidelines issued by the Council.

“We don’t want to recall the individual because it will dent the image of the country. So we decided to strengthen the verification process before they leave and that’s what we did.”

But speaking about why the Council issued the guidelines, on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, he said the development is in line with international best practices, adding that so many nurses in the country have left in the past few years.

“Government policies especially the present Renewed Hope Agenda, a lot of policies are coming onboard, the Federal Ministry of Health came up with so many policies where Nigerian healthcare system will be improved.”

He maintained: “Now if we allow every Nigerian to leave as they graduate, who is going to handle our healthcare services? Who is going to provide these services? We are Nigerians and it is our responsibility to these services.

“So, we are not against anybody travelling but Nigerians must be served and must be provided with this quality healthcare since we are producing the quality and best nurses that are working anywhere in the world.”

According to him, the Council has gotten several complaints about the relocation of nurses from the country. But he said such relocations should be done rightly.