File: Nurses
By Amah
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The Nursing and Midwifery Council in the United Kingdom has indicted 1,238 Nigerian nurses and midwives in the widely spread exam fraud concerns at Yunnik test centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The NMC also said 717 Nigerian nurses and midwives are being probed for the exam fraud at the Ibadan centre.
The council, which disclosed this exclusively to our correspondent in an email correspondence, noted that 1,955 Nigerian professionals were impacted by the concerns at Yunnik test centre because they took their tests there.
Earlier, the Home Office asked some Nigerian nurses and midwives being probed for an exam fraud that occurred in Nigeria to leave the UK.
According to Nursing Times, the nurses, who are still awaiting the outcomes of their appeals, have had their visas revoked by the UK.
In 2023, the UK’s council launched a probe into the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, and commenced investigation following an alert it received about unusual data coming from the centre’s site.
Analysis of data from the test centre showed that the nurses were sitting their Computer-Based Test in record time.
The CBT is one of two aspects of a test of competence that some foreign nurses must complete as part of their NMC application, usually sat in their home countries.
Giving the breakdown, the council highlighted that four groups of professionals were affected by the concerns at the Yunnik test centre in Ibadan.
It stated, “Professionals on the register, who achieved their CBT in a time we believe is more likely than not to indicate that they obtained their result fraudulently (48).
“Applicants wishing to join the register, who achieved their CBT in a time we believe is more likely than not to indicate that they obtained their result fraudulently (669).
“Professionals on the register, about whom we did not take forward allegations of fraud but whose CBT was invalidated (467).
“Applicants wishing to join the register, about whom there was insufficient evidence of fraud but whose CBT was invalidated (771).”
It said the pattern of test taking at Yunnik was in stark contrast to other sites in Nigeria and globally, and indicated widespread fraud whereby hundreds of people at one site were passing the test in times which are highly improbable.
It noted that its regulatory approach to addressing this meant that all affected individuals would be given the opportunity to obtain a new, valid CBT result, with our test provider, Pearson VUE, covering the candidate exam fee.
“Those registrants in group three would then be able to stay on the register with no further action needed. Those applicants in group four would be able to progress to a complete application and join the register if all requirements have been met (including English language requirements, health and character requirements etc).
“Those in groups one and two had the opportunity to retake their CBT, however this would not guarantee remaining on, or joining, the register. Those registrants in group one were referred to an Independent Panel to consider the concerns under our ‘fraudulent entry’ process.
“Those applicants in group two are, upon obtaining a new CBT and demonstrating that they have met all other requirements, having their applications reviewed by an Assistant Registrar. This is because even with a new CBT, there remain concerns relating to our Guidance on health and character, given what happened at Yunnik,” it added.
It said upon obtaining a new, valid CBT result, individuals would still need to complete and submit their application to us, before an AR could review it and take a decision.
On where the council is, it emphasised that the Assistant Registrar has considered 202 complete applications for those with fraud concerns.
“183 have been refused on the basis that they do not meet the character requirements for registrations. Nine applications have been approved. We have concluded nine registration appeals for applicants seeking to appeal an Assistant Registrar’s decision. Three have been allowed and six have been dismissed.
“Since the hearings started in March 2024, 12 registrants have had a fraudulent entry hearing outcome. Of those, 10 have been removed from the register after fraud was found proved by an independent panel, and two people have been allowed to remain on the register after the panel found fraudulent entry was not proved,” it noted.
On support the council is offering to nurses awaiting a decision, it said it is a priority for the council to resolve cases as swiftly and safely as possible and it is working closely with all parties, including representatives, to schedule the remaining hearings in accordance with their requirements and availability.
“We have a dedicated team in place to progress cases. Where possible, we continue to schedule hearings sooner for individuals who tell us about extenuating circumstances.
“We understand that being involved in our regulatory processes can be distressing for people, and we are currently working to better understand this impact so that we can find more ways to support people.
“In terms of the things we have done or currently do for those involved in this particular concern: We have worked with employers to help them uphold their duty of care to people. As part of this, we provided comprehensive FAQs to ensure, as far as we can, a clear and consistent understanding of what’s happened and what it means for people,” it stated.
It further said the council worked with Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK to provide their members with as much information and clarity as we can about our regulatory work and what it means for them.
“We worked similarly with unions and representative bodies to provide clear and consistent information about our processes, as well as signposting to support and wellbeing resources.
“We extended our Careline to applicants to our register, as well as to those already on the register. The Careline offers independent emotional and practical support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for nurses and midwives involved in our regulatory processes.
“We increased our access to safeguarding professionals to advise colleagues when there may be safeguarding actions we need to take,” it concluded.
The mass exodus of Nigerian health workers, particularly nurses and midwives, has reached alarming levels in recent years, as many seek better opportunities abroad.
The former Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Faruk Abubakar, said over 15,000 nurses and midwives left the country in 2023.
Abubakar further noted that 42,000 nurses left the country in the last three years, stating the number kept increasing every year.
In 2022, the former President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Michael Nnachi, said over 57,000 nurses have left Nigeria for greener pastures abroad from 2017 to 2022.
As of August 2024, the MNC stated that a total of 13,656 nurses and midwives educated in Nigeria were practising in the UK.
Punch
