Nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) have embarked on a seven-day warning strike, ignoring appeals from the Federal Government.
The industrial action, which kicked off at midnight Wednesday, follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14.
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Morakinyo Rilwan, the National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, said on Tuesday that the government failed to engage meaningfully with the association during the negotiation window.
According to him, the strike became inevitable due to the government’s silence on critical demands, which include an upward review of shift allowances, adjustment of uniform allowance, the introduction of a separate salary structure for nurses, improved core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nurses, and the establishment of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
“As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it. Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike,” he declared. “They had enough time.”
Rilwan stressed that the welfare of nurses and the survival of Nigeria’s health sector depended on urgent government intervention.
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“This strike is not initiated by the leadership of the union; it was initiated by the members, and they said this is what they want,” he stated.
“They are not even contemplating ‘no work, no pay,’ because that is the only language the government can use, and they are ready—because the money they are taking is not even enough for them. They are ready to sacrifice that as long as this strike continues,” Rilwan remarked.
“If the 21 days elapse and there is no reasonable response from the government, we would embark on a total and indefinite strike,” he warned.
NANNM’s demands
NANNM’s demands include the gazetting of the revised Nurses’ Scheme of Service approved by the National Council on Establishments in 2016, the full implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment delivered on January 27, 2012, and an upward review of professional allowances for nurses and midwives.
The association is also calling for increased recruitment of nursing personnel, improved equipment in health facilities, the establishment of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, and inclusion of nurses in leadership positions within health policy-making bodies, among others.
In addition, NANNM has rejected the content of a recently released circular on revised allowances for nurses, describing it as “grossly inadequate and discriminatory”.
Radio Nigeria