The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has reaffirmed its readiness to embark on a nationwide seven-day warning strike starting midnight of Tuesday July 29, 2025, should the federal government fail to meet its demands.
The decision followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14, after the government released a circular through the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) that suspended recently approved, but controversial health sector allowances.
Although the circular has been suspended, NANNM, in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Health, said that the suspension of the circular was only one of nine key demands and insufficient to halt the impending strike.
“We want to state unequivocally that the suspension of the circular in question is just one item among the nine demands the association presented to the government. The Association cannot suspend the ultimatum until all legitimate requests are addressed,” the letter read.
Among the demands tabled before the federal government is gazetting of the approved nurses’ scheme of service by the National Council on Establishment (NCE) since 2016 and implementation of the 2012 National Industrial Court judgment in favour of nurses.
The medical workers are also seeking upward review of professional allowances for nurses and midwives and mass recruitment of nursing personnel as well as improved healthcare infrastructure.
Other demands include creation of Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, inclusion of nurses in top-level policy and decision-making bodies, fair representation on governing boards of federal health institutions, centralised posting of intern nurses through a structured national pool and granting of consultancy status to qualified nurses and midwives.
A circular dated July 25 and signed by NANNM’s top officials, including its 2nd National Vice President, Orolu Sesan and Deputy General Secretary, Elder Otaru Daniel Shaibu, directed all state council leaders to mobilise members for the strike if the government fails to act before the deadline.
“You would recall that the national leadership, on behalf of the entire members of the Association, issued the above ultimatum to the federal government. Be reminded that the ultimatum expires at 12am midnight, Tuesday 29th July, 2025,” the circular read.
NANNM chairman at the National Hospital Abuja, Comrade Joseph Awujah Akpi decried the exclusion of nurses from hospital boards despite forming over 60% per cent of the health workforce.
“We want fairness in board appointments. There are instances where three or four members of a particular profession sit on the board, but not a single nurse is included. Nurses are being sidelined despite doing the bulk of the work,” he said.
He also called for the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health and the implementation of a centralised system for internship placements.
Akpi told LEADERSHIP that the current situation where one nurse is left to care for up to 32 patients is unsustainable.
“There’s a misconception that we don’t have enough nurses. That’s not true. The nurses are here, but the government isn’t employing them. We want a state of emergency declared on nursing employment,” he said.
He further lamented the dilapidated state of many health facilities, calling for urgent investments to support quality care.
NANNM also urged the federal government to act quickly to avert a breakdown in health services nationwide.
LEADERSHIP reports that if it goes ahead, the strike could cripple healthcare delivery across the country, as nurses and midwives form the backbone of the country’s health system.
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