Nurses suspend nationwide strike after four days
By Jeffrey Agbo
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially called off its nationwide warning strike, which lasted four days.
Assistant Secretary-General of NANNM, Chidi Aligwe, confirmed the development on Saturday.
The industrial action, which began on Wednesday, was a seven-day warning strike aimed at drawing attention to longstanding issues. These included demands such as the upward review of shift and uniform allowances, a dedicated salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, large-scale recruitment of nurses, and the creation of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Following a virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), the strike was suspended on Saturday.
On Friday, representatives of the union engaged with officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Accountant General, and the National Salaries and Wages Commission, among other relevant agencies, to discuss the union’s demands.
Aligwe stated, “The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately.”
The decision was further confirmed in a circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike”, signed by NANNM’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima.
The document noted that the NEC resolved to halt the strike after extensively reviewing the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the associated implementation timeline.
The circular stated, “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.
“In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect.
“NEC has directed the national leadership to continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.
“State councils are directed to mobilise members for the immediate resumption of duty. NEC resolved that no member of NANNM, including interns and locum nurses, should be victimised for participating in the nationwide strike.
“NEC appreciates the commitment and solidarity of all members throughout this action and reiterates that NANNM remains steadfast in defending the welfare, dignity, and professional rights of all nurses and midwives in Nigeria.”
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