The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has firmly stated that its ongoing nationwide strike has not been called off, contrary to claims made by the federal government.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, announced on Friday that the nurses had suspended their industrial action following what he described as a successful negotiation between the government and the association’s leadership. He made this statement while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting in Abuja.
However, in a swift response that contradicts the Minister’s remarks, NANNM’s National Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, dismissed the claim, asserting that the strike remains fully in effect.
“If it was the Minister who organized the strike, then he could call it off,” Rilwan told Daily Trust in a telephone interview. “As far as I’m concerned, the strike organized by the association is still ongoing. The Minister didn’t organize the strike, so he doesn’t have the authority to call it off.”
He further emphasized that any decision to suspend or end the strike must go through official procedures established by the union, and those steps have not yet been taken.
The seven-day nationwide warning strike began on Wednesday, following the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued by NANNM to the federal government. The union is protesting several unresolved issues, including:
- Poor remuneration and wage disparities
- Acute staff shortages in health facilities
- Unpaid allowances and entitlements
- Unsafe and deteriorating working conditions for healthcare workers
The nurses’ action has further strained Nigeria’s healthcare system, which is already grappling with ongoing tensions between medical doctors and the government over similar welfare concerns.
Hospitals and clinics across the country are reportedly operating below capacity, with many patients turned away or facing delays in treatment.
As of now, NANNM insists there has been no official resolution, and the strike will continue until their demands are met or a properly ratified agreement is reached.
