Reps urge striking nurses to call off industrial action over worsening health service disruptions nationwide.
Lawmakers appeal for dialogue, stressing national interest and ongoing talks with health and labour ministries.
The House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity has urged the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to call off its nationwide strike, saying the action is making healthcare services worse across the country.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the Committee Chairman, Asiwaju (Dr.) Adegboyega Adefarati, the lawmakers acknowledged the essential role nurses and midwives play in the health sector but urged them to reconsider their action in the interest of national development.
“At this critical period of our nation’s economic transformation, it is imperative that we prioritize the collective interests of all Nigerians,” Adefarati said.
He noted that while the Committee understands and sympathizes with the concerns of health workers, the strike now in its third day is placing more strain on an already overburdened system.
“The ongoing nationwide strike has significantly disrupted healthcare services across the country,” the statement added. “While we recognize the importance of addressing the legitimate grievances of our health professionals, we urge the leadership of Nigerian nurses and midwives to consider the aggregate interest of all Nigerians.”
According to Adefarati, both the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Health are currently in talks with the union leadership to resolve the situation. He called on the union to approach the negotiations with an open mind.
“We believe that through constructive engagement and mutual understanding, we can achieve balanced outcomes that respect the needs of our health workers while safeguarding the health rights and well-being of all Nigerians,” he said.
The statement ended with a call for the union to demonstrate leadership and patriotism by suspending the strike. The Committee also assured the union that the National Assembly remains committed to pursuing reforms that address their demands through legislative action and oversight.
The strike began on Tuesday, July 29, with the nurses and midwives demanding better welfare conditions, revised salaries, and more staff recruitment to ease workload pressures.
