Need For Nigerian Nurses To Focus on Unity

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Kunle Emmanuel
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Need For Nigerian Nurses To Focus on Unity

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

EMERGENCE OF FIFTH COLUMNISTS WITHIN THE NURSING PROFESSION IN NIGERIA: NEED FOR NIGERIAN NURSES TO FOCUS ON UNITY.

I write to convey heartfelt felicitations to all nurses of Nigerian extract and origin and use this medium to congratulate the leadership of the profession starting with the registered professional association cum trade union - NANNM; the regulatory agency, N&MCN; the directorate of nursing services in the federal ministry, the Committee of heads of nursing departments in Nigerian universities, Committee of Heads of Basic and Post Basic Nursing Institutions of Nigeria (COHBPNIN), the Fellows of West African College of Nursing (FWACN) and other stakeholders in this noble profession. Efforts of all these stakeholders and their contributions to the development of the nursing profession in Nigeria cannot be wished away and are greatly appreciated. I also want to acknowledge and appreciate the past leaders who have contributed immensely to the profession in their various domains as I realize that the foundation on which today is built was yesterday. It is important to acknowledge the young and active members of the profession in whom the future of nursing lies. It is pertinent to appreciate their undying quest for the betterment of this profession and their numerous yearnings for a better nursing profession which is responsible for putting some of our current leaders on their toes to do the needful.

I have observed with keen interest the recent trend of events as regards the nursing profession in Nigeria especially as some persons have chosen to fan the embers of disunity and it is crucial to note that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Consequently, one is compelled to clear the air and set the records straight on certain issues in our quest to ensure that Nigerian nurses understand the facts of the matter and for posterity sake. It is indeed very important for us as nurses to understand our past, where we are coming from as this will serve as a veritable tool; a compass; to direct us in the quest for where we are going to; a glorious future.

The profession of nursing world over is an enviable and noble one that every nurse should be proud of belonging to. However, as a student of history, I may not be able to give first hand chronicle of the evolution of the nursing profession in Nigeria but with close association with some eminent nursing elders, I was able to gather that the nursing profession in Nigeria has its own peculiarities even from its foundation. This is exemplified in a situation where at the inception, there were various groups representing the interests of the same profession and who were speaking with diverse views and opinions on issues of common interest to the nursing profession. This created a situation whereby things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold resulting in a huge setback for would be achievements for the profession. There were various associations/organizations purporting to represent the interests of the nursing profession which include;
Nigerian Union of Nurses (NUN)
Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria (PATNON)
Nigeria Nurses Association (NNA)
Professional Association of Trained Midwives of Nigeria (PAMON)
Professional Health Visitors of Nigeria
Nigeria Industrial Nurses Association
Guild of Registered Nurses of Nigeria
Community Nurses Association of Nigeria

This led to a scenario where the various groups representing the interest of the nursing profession were singing discordant tunes on issues of mutual interests resulting to a colossal loss in the Udoji award of 1976. It took the efforts of well-meaning patriots and trailblazers in nursing for whom the huge loss served as an eye opener and a unifying factor to clamor for unity. This engineered the unification of diverse interest groups under one umbrella leading to the inauguration of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) as a professional association cum trade union and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) on the 8th December, 1977 at the City Hall, Lagos. The first leadership of the Association emerged with Mrs. Hannatu Omole as the President and Mrs. Julie Omigbo as the Deputy President while Comrade Moses Adelani Olabode was appointed the pioneer Executive Secretary of the association. This set of leaders led the struggle that culminated into the achievement of the IAP Award of 1981 delivered by Justice Savage, which conferred true professional status on Nursing. The IAP awarded thus; “Nursing is a Profession “sui generis” subject to no control or directive by any other group or profession except in so far as it forms part of an organic whole”.

Recently however, nurses seem to be unaware or have forgotten this past and are beginning to get divided on issues of common interests. The fear is that a repeat of the 1976 scenario may be imminent. Thankfully, despite the discordant tunes sang on the issue of the scheme of service and internship, the outcome at the 39th National Council of Establishment in Niger state was a victory for the nursing profession and it was expected that the victory was going to be a unifying factor for nurses in Nigeria. It was therefore a sigh of relief to read the release from the desk of the national president of NANNM in which he congratulated all Nigerian nurses and described this victory as one for all nurses in Nigeria. For me, this was leadership exemplified and humility personified. Only a few persons can share the credit for such an achievement with all, especially with persons who overtly and covertly worked against them in the pursuit of the goal. I became personally endeared to him from the titling of the piece “A victory for all Nigerian nurses” and even with the message he sent via the release. A close scrutiny at the document revealed that the NANNM president did not for once ascribe the success at the NCE as solely the efforts of NANNM, himself or a group of individuals. Rather, he called for all nurses to intensify efforts at working towards the release of necessary circulars and implementation of the internship scheme and the unified scheme of service. He further called for unity amongst all Nigerian nurses and in his words, admonished that Nigerian nurses should “remain and steadfast in prayer for the speedy circularization and implementation of this pronouncement. Our discourse at this historic moment of ours should focus more on generating more light than heat. I will enjoin us to lay more emphasis on the factors that unite us rather than those that separate us. It is pertinent to note that at this point, we should remember that we are first of all nurses before factors such as specialties, race, qualifications put us into different sections.”

One was really expecting nurses to yield this admonition and work together to harness all our energies towards the speedy circularization and implementation. However, there have always been Judases since the days of Jesus and I guess they don’t plan to hang their boots anytime soon. Rather than bring their contributions to the table on how fresh graduates from universities will commence internship or about how to stop, with immediate effect, the retrogression of registered nurses who go to acquire BNSc degrees in the name of conversion to the officers’ cadre, they have started misinforming Nigerian nurses on how the victory was secured or who should take the credit either wrongfully or rightfully. These people who have constituted themselves into fifth columnists did not even deem it fit to congratulate Nigerian nurses on the achievement but were quick to apportion credits and condemnations even though I reliably gathered that they didn’t set foot in Minna the venue of the NCE meeting not to mention having firsthand information of what transpired at the meeting. Let it be made crystal clear that NANNM and N&MCN should be partners in progress and at no point be seen as in a competition as purported by these fifth columnists who are attempting to import themselves into the affairs of the profession through the back door and create animosities where there should be none. They have eventually proven to us that they do not have the interests of Nigerian nurses at heart but are only interested in boosting their selfish egos.

Nigerian nurses should ignore these enemies of the profession and yield to the request of a true leader who has called on us to unite and focus on the factors that unify us rather than those that divide us and work together to speak in one voice and sing in harmonious tunes to achieve the set target ahead of us. It should not cost us another colossal loss like in the days of the Udoji award for us to appreciate the importance of unity. He who refuses to learn from the past is doomed to the damnations of repeated blunders.

A WORD IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE WISE.

Sherif Olanrewaju R.N
Together We Light Up The Profession one candle at a time.
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Kunle Emmanuel
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Re: Need For Nigerian Nurses To Focus on Unity

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Durosawo Sunday Micheal
Nursing on her path to revival. Thank you Comrade.
Adedeji Adeniyi That was a good one bro.
Precious Ehondor Nice one comrade. United we stand or divided we fall. A word is enough for the wise.
Danjuma Aliyu Aptly said. Kudos to you for a well written article. God bless you a million times, 8 hourly for 1 month.
Prince Abdul-Lateef Adeyeni Olanrewaju Sherif Adewale, You've gone through a thorough political tutelage, I've no doubt in you that you will go places. Ride on brother
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Re: Need For Nigerian Nurses To Focus on Unity

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Augustine David:
But the truth is that you lost your bid for Unified Scheme of Service at the 39th National Council of Establishment (NCE) meeting. NANNM lied that her proposed Unified Scheme of Service was approved by the NCE. Nurses should disregard such claims by NANNM.

Pls, NANNM should stop deceiving nurses. It is a deservice to the profession for NANNM to spend 4years fighting for a Unified Scheme of Service (USS) that can never be approved.

Pls, nurses, don't be deceived, the proposed USS was not approved by the 39th meeting of the NCE. If you are waiting to be promoted above level 14 without BNSC then you are equally waiting for stagnation. Upgrade to BNSC and you'll be converted to the directorate cadre without demotion.

There is nothing like crossing the level 14 barrier without BNSC. According to NCE approval of the amendment to the existing scheme of service (as proposed by the NMCN), you can now convert to the directorate cadre without being demoted.

NANNM knows how to manufacture lies. There was no issue like ''Lateral Conversion'' on NANNM's table before the NCE meeting. NANNM's USS was designed to eliminate the need for any conversion; conversion can only take place between two seperate schemes of service and NOT on the same scheme of service.

Pls stop deceiving others and drop the failed idea because your USS can never be approved.
Augustine David
You just want to blackmail because you loss your bid for USS. Nurses are like medical doctors (NMA, ARD, MDCAN), you will have many professional nursing associations based on the different levels of education. It is normal for those with higher levels of education to form autonomous entities within a profession and their opinions are usually taken more seriously. But is seems NANNM has recentment for education. The NANNM leadership prefer the opinions of the least educated members of the profession. How can you take the opinions of the least educated more seriously and call that unity. NANNM is causing disunity among her members and they can not shift the blame to other autonomous body of nurses.

NANNM's policies are illegitimate because they lack professional authority. The opinion of the most educated group of members of a profession is the opinion of that profession, nothing more, nothing less. You can not accept the opinion of RN qualified and discard the opinion of RN plus post-basic plus BNSC qualified and expect unity. No matter how educated NANNM EXCO members are, there can never be unity if they continue to discard the opinions of those with BNSC+ post - basic+ RN (UGONSA).

The postgraduate educated nurses should be encouraged to form such an organization that will enable them lead and influence professional polices. Policy development in any profession should be led by the most educated group of the professionals. Also we need postgraduate educated nurses to form 2/3 of the Board of the NMCN, the Registrar also should hold a minimum of masters degree in nursing.

Education is the ONLY KEY to professional development. NANNM should stop looking for any other key; no other key will work.
Adekoya Olusola :@ Augustine David, and here the dividers come. if people are promoted is the money going to b removed from your salary. and where did you get the idea that the entire point of clamouring for a unified scheme is to promote "those who don't deserve it". State one issue on which you have ever seen MDCAN or ARD go against NMA ever. Define illegitimate, and what you mean by NANNM policies are illegitimate, ever since you've been going around fanning the flames mention one thing you have achieved to favour even only your group not to mention nurses at large. Who are "the least educated" and you went to our rooms and checked and found that even these leaders you referred to do not have your almighty BNSC. So even if the opinion of a PHD is to kill all basic RN it still makes sense. When you form association whose only song is division and selfishness and expect those you call irrelevant to follow you then it simply shows your ability to acquire knowledge with zero wisdom making you the most dangerous of the specie. Since you re so informed how many nurses on the board today are ordinary RNs. I thank your types for the monumental achievement of making education look like foolishness. To other colleagues, we thank God that not all degree holders are so grandiose and masters holders are a better specie. @ Augustine David, before anything else do you even have any other qualification beyond BNSC
Oluwabamibo Adeleke Are we even sure that Augustine David is a Nurse to begin with? There's nothing to show for that in his empty profile! He is displaying the logo of one NUHSA as his profile picture, not even proud enough to make UGONSA's logo his profile picture............. BNSC holder my foot!
Kunle Emmanuel Good history of journey so far! The orientation will continue to be change for good with this and many more of these information that will shape our tomorrow. Unity we stand!
Durosawo Sunday Micheal
@ Augustine David , it is very clear where you belong in Nursing... in fact you have just portrayed yourself as one of the fifth columnists that this beautiful write-up sought to paint. Stop peddling lies, USS has been approved and by God's grace will soon get to the circularization stage and in your clear eyes, Nurses will start benefitting and celebrating the achievement in financial terms and smiles of career satisfaction while you rot alive in the depression of witnessing the achievement that you strived so hard with your blood to sabotage without success and mark my words, you will never be satisfied as long as your aim in life is to fight the nursing profession and nurses that you claim to belong and be...for division and destruction of Nursing profession is what Ugwenu add in mind when he started GNAN/UGONZA , while he employed one of his juvenile dememnted children as the Secretary and heir to the throne and nothing else and drafted constitutionally and technically professional psychotics like you as his followers.
Tell me, who cares about UGONSA and their messages of hates in Nigeria? They failed from their conception and till today. When "we" are ready to form the right "UGONSA" (that is if it is anymore necessary...as it has been bastardized ...or because most Nigerian nurses are now BNSc holders as pointed by Adekoya Olusola up there and so there may not be a need anymore)...we will come at you.
By the way, your formula BNSC+post-basic+RN(UGONSA) only exists in your wharped and actively decaying mind. It doesn't exist anywhere else...Help me please...you mean the same "RN+Post-basic" you don't want to smell ?
Abeg, come back another day...especially when you graduate from only God knows which school or profession you represent self.
Adedeji Adeniyi @ Augustine David am certain anything better should not be expected from you cos checking your profile, I realized the kind of person you are, and it really depicted a lot about you . No one belongs to that group and think in a straight forward direction. Mind you Nursing profession is more than you or your thought. Yourself and your cohort have been on this assignment of disrupting the peace within the profession and ensuring stagnation of nurses in the country even including those you claimed to have had higher education within the profession which am sure you are so glad to ensure it continues. Before this current administration in Nannm took up the struggle of achieving a scheme of service that will be void of intimidation and provide a leverage for graduate nurses in the country, what effort have you people made to make sure that even only your so called highest educated nurses nurses enjoy what their counterparts in other professions are enjoying? Instead of you to join hands with visionary leadership that is ready to make sure nurses and nursing is positioned where it belong within the health sector, you are there talking what is not. Mind you check the profile of all those commenting here, you will see that the Lord is good as they all are holding your so called higher education. What I think you should do is to find out why these set of people are not sharing your selfish view, why are they in support of NANNM struggle? I believe if you do hat you will understand the need to foster peace and stop being naive on this mater.
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