The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the United Kingdom has accused 1,238 Nigerian nurses and midwives of being involved in an exam fraud scandal at the Yunnik test centre in Ibadan, Oyo State. An additional 717 Nigerian professionals are currently under investigation, bringing the total number of those affected to 1,955.
The council launched an investigation into the test centre in 2023 after noticing unusual data patterns from the site. The UK Home Office has since revoked the visas of some of the affected nurses, ordering them to leave the country while awaiting the outcome of their appeals.
Suspicious Exam Results Trigger Investigation
The NMC raised concerns when data analysis revealed that many candidates at Yunnik completed their Computer-Based Test (CBT) in unusually short times. The CBT is a crucial part of the qualification process for foreign-trained nurses seeking to work in the UK. The council stated that the test-taking pattern at Yunnik was significantly different from other centres in Nigeria and worldwide, suggesting widespread fraud.
“We found that hundreds of people at this single centre were passing the test at speeds that are highly improbable,” the council noted in an official statement.
As a result, the council classified the affected nurses and midwives into four groups:
1. 48 professionals already on the register whose results were deemed fraudulent.
2. 669 applicants awaiting registration who were suspected of cheating.
3. 467 registered professionals whose results were invalidated but were not accused of fraud.
4. 771 applicants whose results were also invalidated but lacked sufficient evidence of fraud.
UK Offers Retests, But Not All Nurses Can Requalify
The NMC stated that all affected individuals would be given a chance to retake the CBT, with the exam provider, Pearson VUE, covering the costs. However, this does not guarantee that those found guilty of fraud will be allowed to continue their careers in the UK.
“Those in groups one and two had the opportunity to retake their CBT, but this does not ensure they will remain on the register,” the council explained. “Those in group one were referred to an independent panel for a fraud investigation, while applicants in group two must pass additional scrutiny due to concerns about their professional integrity.”
The council reported that as of now, the Assistant Registrar has reviewed 202 complete applications, rejecting 183 on the basis that they failed to meet the UK’s character requirements for registration. Only nine applications have been approved.
Additionally, hearings for registered professionals found that 10 nurses had committed fraud and were removed from the register, while two were allowed to remain.
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Support for Affected Nurses and Midwives
The council acknowledged the distress caused to those under investigation and assured them of available support. It has extended access to its Careline, which offers emotional and practical assistance 24/7.
“We have also worked closely with employers and the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK to provide affected individuals with accurate information and resources for support,” the NMC stated.
Unions and representative bodies have also been engaged to ensure transparency in the investigation process.
Mass Exodus of Nigerian Nurses Continues
The issue comes amid a rising trend of Nigerian health workers leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad. In 2023 alone, over 15,000 Nigerian nurses and midwives left the country, according to the former Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Faruk Abubakar. He further noted that 42,000 nurses had migrated in the past three years, with numbers increasing annually.
By August 2024, a total of 13,656 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives were registered and working in the UK.
The outcome of the NMC’s investigation will determine the fate of the 1,955 Nigerian nurses under scrutiny, as many hope to clear their names and continue their careers in the UK’s healthcare system