NANNM has denied suspending its nationwide strike, insisting the industrial action remains fully active.
The nurses’ union says only its NEC can end the strike and will meet to review progress.
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) Sector, has firmly denied reports that it has suspended its ongoing nationwide warning strike, insisting that the industrial action is still in full effect.
Contrary to claims by the Federal Government, the union clarified that no decision has been made to call off the seven-day strike, which began on Wednesday, July 30.
NANNM-FHI’s National Public Relations Officer, Omomo Tibiebi, stated that while a meeting was held earlier on Friday with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the strike was not suspended.
“The strike has not been suspended. Earlier today, the NANNM executives had a meeting with the Coordinating Minister… and it was the minister who went to the press to say the strike was called off,” Tibiebi said. “He wasn’t the one who called the strike in the first place, so he has no right to call it off. The strike is still on.”
Tibiebi added that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) would convene on Saturday to assess the government’s response and determine whether the commitments made are sufficient to warrant ending the strike.
“There will be a National Executive Council meeting tomorrow, and that’s when a decision will be made. We would know if what the Federal Government has promised is good enough for us to suspend the strike,” he said.
The nurses’ strike was launched to press for key demands, including:
- Increased shift allowances
- Adjustment of uniform allowances
- A distinct salary structure for nurses
- Enhanced core duty allowances
- Mass recruitment to address shortages
- Creation of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health
The association emphasized that these demands are not new and reflect long-standing issues affecting the welfare and professional development of nurses in the country.
As hospitals and health facilities across Nigeria continue to grapple with the strike’s impact, patients are urged to seek care where available, while stakeholders await the outcome of the union’s NEC meeting for a potential resolution.
