Minister Pleads With Nurses, Midwives To Suspend Strike

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi has appealed to the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to suspend the ongoing nationwide warning strike.

Dingyadi urged the union to prioritise dialogue as negotiations continue to resolve lingering grievances.

The Minister made the appeal during a crucial meeting with leaders of the association on Wednesday in Abuja.

Striking Nurses Paralyse Activities At UCH

He acknowledged the concerns raised by the health workers, but emphasised that industrial action would only disrupt essential health services and compound existing challenges in the sector.

“Strike is not the best solution to industrial disputes,” urging the association to give room for further engagement.

“We are committed to addressing your concerns through ongoing dialogue, and I ask for your cooperation as we move forward”, Dingyadi said.

According to a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Patience Onuobia, the meeting will reconvene on Friday at the Federal Ministry of Health, where deliberations will continue toward finding a mutually acceptable resolution.

LEADERSHIP reports the ongoing 7-day warning strike followed several unmet demands from the association.

These include gazetting of the approved nurses’ scheme of service by the National Council on Establishment (NCE) since 2016, implementing the 2012 National Industrial Court judgment in favour of nurses, upward review of professional allowances for nurses and midwives, among others.