United Kingdom’s Nursing and Midwifery Council Identifies Over 1,000 Nigerian Nurses in Exam Fraud Scandal
The United Kingdom’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has identified 1,238 Nigerian nurses and midwives as being involved in an exam fraud scandal at the Yunnik test centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, while another 717 remain under investigation, bringing the total number of affected professionals to 1,955. This development follows an investigation that began in 2023 after the NMC received an alert about unusual data patterns from the test centre, which suggested irregularities in the manner the Computer-Based Test (CBT) was conducted.
The CBT is a critical component of the Test of Competence that foreign-trained nurses must pass before gaining entry into the NMC register in the UK. The investigation revealed that candidates at the Yunnik centre were completing the exam in significantly shorter times than what is considered standard, raising suspicions of widespread malpractice. The NMC classified the affected individuals into four groups: professionals already on the register suspected of fraudulent entry, applicants who allegedly obtained their results fraudulently, individuals whose results were invalidated despite insufficient evidence of fraud, and those whose CBT results were annulled but were not accused of wrongdoing.
In response to the findings, the UK Home Office has taken strict measures, including revoking visas of some of the nurses under investigation and instructing them to leave the country while awaiting further decisions. Those affected have been given the opportunity to retake the CBT under more stringent conditions, but this does not guarantee reinstatement or approval for registration. The NMC has since reviewed 202 cases, rejecting 183 applications due to character concerns, approving nine, and hearing 12 cases before an independent panel. Of these, 10 nurses were removed from the register, while two were cleared of fraudulent entry allegations.
The council has assured that it is committed to handling the cases fairly and has taken steps to support those involved by working with unions, employers, and the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK. A 24/7 Careline has also been set up to offer emotional and practical support to affected nurses.
