Several Nigerian nurses under investigation for alleged fraud at a UK test center have been ordered to leave the country, despite having pending appeals, Nursing Times reports.The UK Home Office has issued letters instructing them to depart next week following the revocation of their visas.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been accused of delaying hearings, potentially leading to deportations before appeals are heard. The NMC, however, denies this, stating it is actively working to schedule hearings as soon as possible.
The issue stems from an investigation into nearly 2,000 Nigerian nurses linked to fraudulent testing at the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.Concerns were raised when data revealed unusually fast completion times for the computer-based test (CBT), a mandatory requirement for international nurses seeking NMC registration.
Following the probe, the NMC flagged 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants as potentially involved in fraudulent testing. Those under suspicion were given the option to retake the CBT or provide further evidence.
An independent panel reviewed cases involving registered nurses, while an assistant registrar (AR) assessed applications from those seeking registration. So far, 20 individuals have admitted to using proxy testers. Among the 48 accused registered nurses, 12 hearings have taken place, resulting in 10 removals and two nurses being allowed to remain. Of the 200 applications reviewed, 191 were rejected, with only nine accepted. Seventeen cases remain pending.
Many affected nurses argue they were unfairly dismissed or had their visas revoked while awaiting hearings. In February, a group of 50 nurses served the NMC with a legal notice, urging it to work with the Home Office to halt deportations until appeals are concluded. The NMC missed the deadline to respond, prompting the nurses to take legal action. The matter remains unresolved, with growing demands for the NMC to reassess all removed or rejected cases, especially after one nurse successfully appealed.
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