Nationwide Strike: Nigerian Nurses Withdraw Services Over Poor Conditions.

Nigerian nurses across federal health institutions have commenced a nationwide warning strike, following the expiration of a 15-day deadline issued to the federal government.

The industrial action, led by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, began at 12:01 AM on Wednesday and lasted seven days.

The association had warned of a complete withdrawal of services should their demands remain unaddressed.

According to the NANNM-FHI National Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, the strike affects 74 federal hospitals, including teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, and specialised facilities such as orthopaedic, neuro-psychiatric, and eye hospitals.

It also encompasses primary healthcare centres and general hospitals across all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. Private hospitals are excluded, given the limited reach of private-practice nurses nationwide.

Key Issues that Prompted this Action are: Poor remuneration and unpaid allowances, Acute shortage of nursing personnel, Unsafe and inadequately equipped working environments, and the federal government’s failure to initiate dialogue following the July 14 ultimatum

The major demands put forward by the nurses include:
Official gazetting of the nurses’ scheme of service approved in 2016, Enforcement of a National Industrial Arbitration Court judgment from January 2012, Review and enhancement of professional allowances, Recruitment of more nurses and improvement of medical infrastructure, Establishment of a Department of Nursing within the Ministry of Health, Fair representation of nurses in policy-making bodies and on institutional boards, Centralised internship postings for nursing graduates, Granting of consultancy titles to nurses and midwives, Withdrawal of the recent circular on revised allowances affecting nurses

Despite prior notifications, the federal government and the Ministry of Health have yet to respond meaningfully to the union’s demands, which could lead to a significant disruption of healthcare delivery across Nigeria.