The Kano State chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), has given the state government a 15-day ultimatum to address their demands or face a statewide strike.
The ultimatum on Wednesday via a letter, signed by the Acting Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the chapter, Comrade Ahmad Hazmat Sharada followed unresolved issues between the nurses and the state government since December 2023.
In the letter dated October 2 and addressed to the Kano State Head of Civil Service, NANNM warned that nurses and midwives across the state will withdraw their services from all clinical facilities and training institutions should government fail to meet their demands.
Parts of the demands outlined in the letter include payment of reviewed hazard allowance for nurses, which was first requested on February 2, 2024 and harmonisation of the scheme of service for nurses, submitted in January 2024.
The association also demanded payment of 25% upward review of the CONHESS salary structure as requested in April 2024, alongside other demands outlined in a reminder sent to the government on August 20, 2024.
The letter also noted several attempts by the union to engage the state government through formal correspondence, with no satisfactory response to date.
If the strike goes ahead, it could have severe consequences for the state’s healthcare system as the withdrawal of nursing services could lead to the shutdown of critical clinical operations, affecting patients and healthcare delivery across Kano State.
The Kano State government has yet to respond to the ultimatum by NANNM as at the time of filing this report.
