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Abuja nurses protest new certificate verification guidelines
By Francesca Hangeior
Nurses under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Abuja chapter, on Monday, protested against the new verification certification guidelines released by the Nigeria and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
The nurses expressed displeasure over what they described as an attempt to hinder their freedom to pursue career opportunities, asking the council to address nurses’ welfare, salary scale, shortage of staff, and other rights.
The protest monitored by our correspondent was carried out at the NMCN’s office in Abuja.
The NMCN had on February 7, 2024, issued a circular revising the guidelines for requesting verification of certificates for nurses and midwives.
The council’s circular was released after The PUNCH reported the deactivation of the verification portal on NMCN’s website since December 2023.
The circular signed by the Registrar of the council, Dr Faruk Abubakar, read in part, “A non-refundable fee per application shall be paid for verification to foreign boards of nursing as specified on the portal. This shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work, and foreign board.
“Eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence. Any application with a provisional licence shall be rejected outright.
“The council shall request a letter of good standing from the chief executive officer of the applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO, NMCN. Please note that the council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”
The council also stated that applicants must have active practising licences with a minimum of six months to the expiration date, and processing of verification applications would take a minimum of six months.
It added that the implementation of the guidelines takes effect from March 1, 2024
Meanwhile, on Monday, the nurses and midwives were at the NMCN office singing and wielding placards around the premises .
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “Address unemployment among nurses, address quakery, address nurses welfare, and “#No to verification rules. Stop frustrating the Nigerian nurses, we are going through a lot already, Protect nurses, protect healthcare, NMCN, we say no to the verification rules, NMCN, don’t reduce nurses” among others.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will sustain salary payments for up to 12 months to families of personnel who die in the line of duty.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, approved the welfare initiative as part of measures to strengthen support for families of fallen personnel.
A credible NAF source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the policy, which provided a special extension of salary payments to the spouses or next of kin of NAF personnel killed in action, would help cushion the impact of their loss.
He explained that, in line with existing public service rules, salary payments normally cease upon the death of a personnel member.
According to him, the new initiative will see salaries of personnel killed in the line of duty continue for up to 12 months from the date of death, or until all death benefits are fully processed and paid, whichever comes first.
The official said the initiative was designed to prevent financial hardship for bereaved families during the period of administrative processing of death benefits.
He added that the CAS had also approved additional welfare packages for officers, airmen and airwomen of the service.
“These measures are aimed at cushioning the prevailing economic pressures and reinforcing the NAF’s commitment to the wellbeing of its personnel.
“These initiatives are also part of a broader welfare reform agenda anchored on the understanding that the wellbeing of personnel and their families is a strategic enabler of combat effectiveness.
“Enhanced welfare drives effective warfare, ensuring that no airman is left unequipped, untrained or unmotivated,” he said.
The source further said that the initiatives reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes, support the families they left behind and sustain a motivated and mission-ready force.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across all states of the federation in support of citizens observing the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten seasons.
The initiative is intended to strengthen national unity and demonstrate compassion during a period that holds deep spiritual significance for both Muslims and Christians.
A statement issued by the Director-General, Renewed Hope Ambassadors and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma explained that “under the directive, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will coordinate the distribution through their nationwide grassroots network to ensure that families across Nigeria benefit from the intervention during this holy season when both Muslims and Christians are fasting.”
According to the statement: “It is worth noting that a similar intervention was carried out during the last Christmas season, when rice was also distributed to support Nigerians celebrating the festive period.
“This continued effort reflects the administration’s consistent commitment to standing with citizens during important religious and cultural seasons.
“Both Christian and Muslim communities will receive rice as part of the nationwide distribution effort, reflecting the President’s commitment to inclusivity, solidarity, and shared national values.”
Commenting on the initiative, Governor Uzodimma said the programme underscored the President’s belief in supporting citizens during this period of fasting while strengthening interfaith harmony.
He said: “This initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to unity and compassion. Ramadan and Lent are seasons that remind us of sacrifice, charity, and care for one another. Through this distribution, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will ensure that families across Nigeria feel the spirit of togetherness during this sacred period.”
The statement concluded by saying that the distribution will be carried out across nationwide through the state, local government, and ward structures of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to ensure broad reach and transparency.
The Police Command in Osun says it has arrested two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in connection with a shooting incident that left a driver dead in Osogbo.
This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Sunday.
Ojelabi explained that the two officers of the NCS were arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at Dada Estate Area, Osogbo, on Sunday.
“The suspects were reportedly chasing suspected tokunbo (foreign-used) vehicles when the incident occurred.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the said ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, one of the vehicles being chased by the Customs officers, was shot and confirmed dead by a medical doctor at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The command’s spokesperson said that the corpse of the yet-to-be-identified victim had been deposited in a morgue.
Ojelabi said several items were recovered from the scene, including a Beretta pistol with breech number 125024, 11 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one expanded 9mm shell.
Other items recovered were a white Toyota Corolla with Lagos registration number AAA 400 GQ, and an ash Toyota Corolla with registration number GFQ 0982.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had ordered a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He assured members of the public that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
He urged residents to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that can aid the investigation.
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