The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) on Wednesday proceeded on a nationwide strike to protest for improved welfare, fair allowances, and better working conditions.
This is following a 7-day notice issued to the Federal Government. The notice, signed by National Secretary Nurse Enya Osinachi and released by President Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, was issued in Abuja last Monday.
The notice explained that the action became necessary after a 15-day ultimatum, issued July 14, expired without a meaningful response from the Federal Government or Federal Ministry of Health.
The strike, which started midnight Tuesday, July 29, involve total service withdrawal across all Federal health institutions.
The association rejected a June 27 circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), calling for its reversal and demanding adjustments to various allowances, including shift, call duty, and retention.
It urged the Federal Government to engage positively, highlighting that a well-supported nursing workforce was critical to quality healthcare outcomes and sustaining public health across all federal medical institutions in Nigeria.
UCH nurses join nationwide warning strike, appeal to patients
Meanwhile, the University College Hospital (UCH) chapter of NANNM, on Wednesday joined the nationwide seven-day warning strike called by the National Headquarters of the Association.
The UCH NANNM branch commenced the strike after their Congress, and appealed to patients to bear with them.
Mrs Olufunmilola Faminu, branch chairperson of the association explained that the strike was directed by the NANNM national headquarters after the Federal Government failed to meet their demands.
She said that the association had demanded employment of more nursing personnel, provision of adequate facilities for the various hospitals and directorate cadre for nurses at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Other demands made by the association she said were fair representation of the association at the Federal Ministry of Health, centralisation of internship training for nurses, review of the allowances for nurses and Midwives, among others.
Faminu who expressed concern about the patients, said it was not their intentions to abandon them.
“Sadly we are so concerned about our patients; we don’t intend to leave them stranded without our care.
“Nurses provide compassionate, competent care across all settings. But we have no choice than to embark on this strike; we appeal to our patients to bear with us.
“This is a just course that we are fighting for. Nurses are the only ones embarking on this strike. There are other healthcare professionals around to attend to any emergency.
“The nationwide strike commenced officially midnight of July 29, and it will end on Aug. 5. If our demands are not met after the warning strike, we will issue a 21-day ultimatum and proceed from there to an indefinite strike,” Faminu said.
Oyo nurses to join nationwide 7-day warning strike Wednesday
Also, the Oyo State chapter of NANNM has disclosed that it will join a nationwide seven-day warning strike starting Wednesday, July 30.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by the state NANNM Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Aina.
Aina stated that the strike action followed a resolution reached at an emergency meeting of NANNM’s National Executive Council and a subsequent directive from the national headquarters.
“I write to notify you that all nurses and midwives across all healthcare institutions, federal, state, and local government, are directed to embark on a seven-day warning strike.
“The strike is scheduled to commence at midnight on Wednesday, July 30, and will run through August 5, 2025,” the statement read.
Aina urged full compliance, adding that official communication regarding the union’s eight-point demand had been sent to relevant authorities.
“This seven-day warning strike is a litmus test for our readiness to pursue a more serious struggle if our demands are not addressed,” he said.
Aina said that among the union’s key demands is the implementation of the new minimum wage for nurses and other staff at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.
He added that the union was also calling for the payment of uniform allowances to all nurses and midwives in the service of Oyo State, in accordance with public service rules.
Other key demands include: Mass recruitment of nurses and midwives into the Hospital Management Board and LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to address severe staffing shortages.
Also, Implementation of a 25 per cent CONHESS adjustment circular for nurses and midwives in Oyo State service and implementation of enhanced hazard allowances for those working at the local government level.
Aina emphasised that the strike was aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need for improved welfare and working conditions for nurses and midwives across the state.
Kwara nurses join nationwide strike over welfare, working conditions
Similarly, the NANNM, Kwara Chapter, on Wednesday joined the ongoing nationwide strike to demand improved welfare, fair allowances, and better working conditions.
The industrial action follows a directive from the national body of the association, which called for full compliance and solidarity across all 36 states and the FCT.
In an interview with NAN in Ilorin on Wednesday, the Chairman of NANNM Kwara State Council, Alhaji Aminu Sheu, confirmed the commencement of the strike in the state.
He noted that the Kwara chapter joined the strike in obedience to the national directive, in spite of efforts made by the state government to improve the welfare of nurses.
“We are joining the strike because it is the directive of the national body.
“There is no demand we have made that the Governor has not approved,” he said.
Sheu also commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for increasing nurses’ salaries in the state for the third time in line with federal directives.
“We joined the strike to show solidarity with the national body and to avoid any disciplinary consequences,” he added.
Also speaking, Hajia Mariam AbdulAzeez, Chairperson of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Chapter of NANNM, said the strike followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government.
She emphasised that many of the union’s long-standing demands had not been met and that the working conditions for nurses remain poor.
“We want the Federal Government to create a dedicated Department of Nursing under the Federal Ministry of Health. Other sister unions have such departments; it is unfair that we do not,” she said.
AbdulAzeez further highlighted the issue of staff shortages, attributing it to the “Japa syndrome,” which had led to a significant number of nurses leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.
“Globally, the nurse-to-patient ratio should be 1 to 4, but in Nigeria, one nurse may be responsible for up to 30 patients. In some facilities, it’s even 1 to 10,” she said.
She appealed to the government at all levels to urgently address their grievances, stating that nurses were not strike-friendly but were driven by concern for the well-being of Nigerians.