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.