The African Action Congress (AAC) has declared total support for the protest against oppressive verification policies issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

This is coming after the NMCN in its revised guidelines states that applicants seeking verification of certificates from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing licence.

This has generated reactions as the Nurses protested to show dissatisfaction against the new policy.

The AAC party has now declared support for the Nurses’ protest, stating that the verification guideline is a smokescreen to more anti-labour policies that would be introduced, adding to the hardship already in the country.

In a statement that was released by AAC National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, on the 13th of February , 2024, the party said, “The African Action Congress (AAC) declares total support for the protest against oppressive verification policies issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). We salute the courage of Nigerians who trooped out across different cities yesterday to express their displeasure at the thoughtless guidelines aimed at cutting short the survival chances of nurses, midwives and other health workers.

“There is no doubt that this move by the Tinubu regime to stifle the freedom of health workers in Nigeria, is synonymous to the slave trade era, wherein people were captured, converted to slaves through hard labour, with little or no food and then chained to prevent them escaping from hardship.

“Over the years, the Nigerian nurses like all other professionals have been fed with a wage only sufficient for them to wake the next day to slave away and again. Despite the poor wages and conditions of work, they have toiled to achieve whatever health outcomes we have today. They deserve respect and dignity of labour; all that we as a party have explained in our manifesto for total liberation.

“It’s also important to state clearly to our nurses that this verification guideline is a smokescreen to more anti-labour policies that would be introduced, adding to the hardship already in the country. This is what the ruling class do when they have lost total control of the economy and corporate governance. They start issuing bans on social services, auction whatever they can find, close borders and this time around, close borders against Nigerians who want to strive to get a better life. This is structural violence!

“Our health workers must then understand clearly that the Registrar of the Council and their board members are just mere “errand boys and girls” of the Tinubu regime. This is not to absolve them but we must understand that the struggle is bigger than focusing on them.

“We must organize ourselves in the coming days for bigger actions with clear and radical demands, so that oppression can be halted in our country.”

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