US, Canada Reject Job Applications By Nigerian Nurses After Government Suspended Licence Verification Services

The suspension of license verification services by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has resulted in the rejection of Nigerian nurses' applications to work abroad.

SaharaReporters reported on August 16, that hundreds of Nigerian nurses are currently stranded due to the continued closure of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) portal.

The leadership of the NMCN, SaharaReporters learnt, closed the portal in February 2024 and this has brought the verification process for new nurses to a grinding halt, leaving many in limbo.

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The NMCN portal is a critical platform for nurses practising in Nigeria to get registered and be verified as qualified medical practitioners.

The issue started on December 22, 2023 when the Registrar of NMCN ordered the immediate closure of the portal without providing any justification.

“I am directed to 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.

“Please note that notice for re-opening of the verification portal will be communicated to you in due course,” a press statement issued to that effect read.

The Nigerian Nursing Council's online portal was reopened on February 7, 2024, following widespread outrage from affected nurses and intervention by the Ministry of Health.

However, the continued closure of the portal has now led to the rejection of Nigerian nurses who applied to work overseas - particularly in the United States and Canada.

Reacting to development, the Nigerian Medical Association expressed regret over the situation, stating that numerous Nigerian applicants have been turned down worldwide due to the portal's closure.

The association criticised the House of Representatives' directive to the NMCN to indefinitely suspend license verification services, citing the severe consequences for Nigerian nurses.

They emphasised that this decision effectively prevents Nigerian nurses from practicing abroad, likening it to a form of "mass kidnapping" that confines nurses to the country against their will.

In a statement shared on it official X handle on Monday, the doctors described it as "unprecedented infringement of Nurses' fundamental human rights".

The statement partly read, "Nigerian Doctors received, with a heavy heart, the news that your office gave a directive to The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) @Nigeria_NMC, to suspend the license verification services for Nurses indefinitely.

"The implication of this 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," it said.

The group added, "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.

"In solidarity, Nigerian Doctors strongly condemn this inhumane treatment and demand an urgent reconsideration.

"Nigerian Citizens are free to live in Nigeria or leave Nigeria.

"P.S: If you did not give this directive, kindly call NMCN to order pls."

The Texas Board of Nursing Nurse Portal in a reply letter to Nigerian applicant, titled, RE: Exams (NCLEX) & Authorizations to Test (ATTs), dated August 15, 2024, the board said that the Nigeria NMC has notified them that they have stopped sending verifications indefinitely.

The letter partly read: "Until further notice, the Texas Board of Nursing has halted the application process for all Nigerian applicants whose Verification of Licensure from the Nigeria NMC is missing or expired.

"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.

"There is no waiver for the Nigerian verification, nor is there any alternative to having the verification sent to us. The Board hopes to inform all applicants when this situation changes. While the Board is sympathetic to any inconvenience or frustration related to our requirements for licensure verification, Board staff must take the requisite care and time to adequately review each submission for the BON to fulfill its mission of protection and promotion of the welfare of the people of Texas," the letter addressed to a Nigerian applicant reads.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Canada in application update of a Nigerian applicant, stated that they cannot move forward with offering the applicant a job until the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) re- opens for license verification.

AHS wrote: "We appreciate your interest in Alberta Health Services and recognize the work you have done in your application. We will not be able to move forward with offering you a job until the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) re- opens for license verification.

"Please email us once the NMCN is able to provide license verifications again and we will continue to match you to a position (provided the recruitment is still in progress)."

Also like other Nigerian applicants in other jurisdictions, the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador also rejected application of Nigerian applicant on the closure of account verifications.

Electronic communication to a Nigerian applicant Nigerian Doctors shared on X handle, read: "We cannot log in to your account to verify licensure. We understand that NMC Nigeria is not issuing verifications at present.

"We do require a verification of registration in order to assess your application, so we will hold your application until this process resumes and you are able to obtain your verification from NMC Nigeria."