…..As Association Insists On Continuation Of Strike
Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Minister of Health, Ali Pate has said that the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM)’s has called off its industrial action after agreements reached with the nurses’ association’s leadership.
He disclosed this after a closed-door session with the leadership of the association.
However, the union leaders declined to comment on the topic during the closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon.
Recall that the association’s nurses and midwives went on strike on July 29, 2025, citing the government’s inability to respond significantly to its 15-day ultimatum given on July 14, 2025.
The warning strike involving nurses in public health institutions across the country was expected to continue till August 5, 2025.
The strike originated from a longstanding concerns about nurses’ welfare and poor working conditions, and the government’s reluctance to address their concerns.
The union had demanded improved welfare, fair allowances, and better working conditions for nurses across federal health institutions.
The union’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, had said that the federal government failed to engage meaningfully with the association during the window provided.
“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. They had enough time,” Rilwan had said.
The nurses’ demands include the upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, implementation of a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
He maintained that the decision to embark on the industrial action was not unilaterally taken by the union’s leadership, but driven by a groundswell of frustration among members over long-standing neglect.
