Nurses Demand Action Over Verification Portal Closure, Citing Career Stagnation

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nurses under the auspices of Concerned Nurses, Tuesday in Abuja rave up efforts to address the prolonged closure of their verification portal, which they argue is causing significant career setbacks.

Nurse Alexis Isi who spoke on behalf of the nurses expressed appreciation for the House of Representatives’ intervention but emphasized the urgency of resolving the ongoing verification crisis.

The controversy stems from a circular issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, imposing a mandatory two-year waiting period for verification and requiring a letter of good standing from the Head of Department (HoD).

Despite directives from the House of Representatives to reverse the circular and reinstate previous procedures, the verification portal has remained inaccessible since November.

Reports suggest that some nurses are resorting to unofficial channels for verification, exacerbating financial burdens and perpetuating uncertainty within the nursing community.

Nurse Alexis underscored the detrimental impact of the verification impasse, noting that nurses are unable to pursue career opportunities or access educational programs.

Furthermore, nurses argue that the stringent verification requirements overlook their professional qualifications and undermine their contributions to the healthcare system.

The current impasse, they assert, obstructs progress on broader issues such as remuneration disparities and inadequate recognition of nurses’ expertise.

The call to reopen the verification portal and streamline the process reflects nurses’ determination to overcome systemic barriers hindering their professional growth.

As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding public health, and addressing their concerns is essential for ensuring a resilient and equitable healthcare system.