Nurses, midwives give FG 15-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide strike

Nurses, midwives give FG 15-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide strike.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, threatening a nationwide seven-day warning strike if their longstanding demands are not addressed.

The resolution followed an emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), held virtually on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from the NANNM National Secretariat in Abuja.

The meeting was convened in response to a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) concerning the review of allowances for health workers.

In a communiqué jointly signed by the Association’s National President Haruna Mamman and General Secretary Dr. T.A. Shettima, the association announced that the ultimatum would take effect from Monday, July 14.

NANNM described the circular as disappointing, inadequate, and discriminatory, arguing that it failed to reflect the vital roles and sacrifices made by nurses and midwives in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Following the communiqué issued after the meeting, Mamman said the NEC condemned the circular and expressed deep concern that several of the association’s demands, previously presented to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, have yet to be addressed.

He listed unresolved issues, including the gazetting of the nurses’ scheme of service approved by the National Council on Establishments in 2016, implementation of a 2012 National Industrial Court judgment, an upward review of professional allowances, and the employment of more nursing personnel

Other demands, according to the communiqué, are the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health, inclusion of nurses in key policy-making roles, fair representation on boards of federal health institutions, centralized posting of graduate nurses for internships, and recognition of consultancy roles for nurses and midwives

If the Federal Government fails to provide concrete and satisfactory responses within that period, nurses and midwives across the country will commence a one-week warning strike immediately after the deadline.

“NANNM called on the government to immediately revisit the controversial circular, engage in constructive dialogue with the association, and implement lasting solutions to the challenges facing the profession,” he said.

While reaffirming their commitment to providing quality healthcare, the NEC emphasized that nurses and midwives cannot continue to deliver such services under conditions of poor welfare, injustice, and neglect.

The association urged the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Assembly, and the general public to intervene to prevent the looming industrial action, which could further strain Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

To further clarify the association’s position, Mamman emphasized that the ultimatum issued by the association is entirely independent of the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) reaction to the recent circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on medical officers’ allowances.

He said: “Nurses make up about 60 to 65 percent of the entire health workforce in Nigerian hospitals. Ideally, there should be a proper department in the Federal Ministry of Health that focuses on nursing. But that doesn’t exist.

“What we have is a Director of Nursing Services, but that director doesn’t even head an official department. That’s what we’re fighting for the proper creation and recognition of a Department of Nursing Services.

This isn’t a demand that started today. We’ve been on this matter for years. We even took the Federal Government to court in 2020 over it. We stayed in court for two years, and in 2022, we got a favourable judgment from the National Industrial Court.

“We’ve submitted letters, sent reminders, engaged in countless dialogues, and yet, nothing concrete has been done. Promises are made, but they’re not kept especially by the Ministry of Health.

“So when people ask us why we are demanding a Department of Nursing now, the truth is we’ve always demanded it. It’s just that the government keeps ignoring us. And now, we are saying enough is enough.

“The issue of consultancy also comes in. In every professional field, whether health or non-health, we have consultants. Nursing is no exception. We have nurses who have met all the required criteria to be appointed as consultants. Some are still waiting; some are on the verge of being appointed but the system hasn’t allowed it to take root.

“The consultancy cadre in nursing hasn’t been operationalized. That is one of our long-standing demands. The government knows this. These demands were presented to the current Minister of Health when he assumed office, almost two years ago. So, they can’t say they’re unaware. We’ve been very clear from the beginning.

“On the issue of disparity in remuneration, let me be clear, we’re not against the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme or the recent deployment of doctors to St. Lucia.

“That’s not the issue. Our problem is the glaring difference in pay. Nigerian doctors going abroad are getting about N?3m monthly under the scheme, while back home, nurses and midwives are barely recognized or compensated adequately. That kind of disparity is dangerous, it’s one of the reasons we are losing our professionals to other countries.

“So, if nothing is done after the 15-day notice, we will withdraw our services. We will boycott the health sector. That’s the reality. We’ve exercised patience. We’ve used all peaceful and administrative channels available. But when the government continues to renege on agreements and court judgments, what other options do we have?

“We are always open to dialogue but dialogue must come with action. We’re not asking for anything new. We are asking for the implementation of existing agreements, court judgments, and structural recognition that is long overdue. (The Nation)