The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) insists its seven-day nationwide strike, which started on July 30, 2025, is still active.
This contradicts the Federal Government’s claim that the strike has ended. The strike has disrupted healthcare services across Nigeria, affecting hospitals and patients.
Government Claims Disputed
On Friday, Health Minister Professor Ali Pate said after a meeting in Abuja that NANNM had agreed to end the strike. However, NANNM’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, rejected this, saying,
“The Minister didn’t start the strike, so he can’t end it. The strike is still on.” Rilwan noted that only the union’s internal process can decide to stop the strike, and that hasn’t happened yet.
Why Nurses Are Striking
The strike, impacting 74 federal health institutions like teaching hospitals, follows a 15-day ultimatum given on July 14, 2025. NANNM is pushing for:
- Better pay and benefits.
- More nurses to address shortages, as over 42,000 nurses have left Nigeria for jobs abroad in the past three years.
- Payment of overdue allowances, such as shift and specialist allowances.
- Safer workplaces with better equipment.
- A Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health.
This is the first major strike by nurses in over 40 years. It has caused major disruptions, with hospitals like Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa and Maitama District Hospital in Abuja reporting empty wards and discharged patients.
What Happens Next?
NANNM plans a general congress on August 2, 2025, to review talks with the government and decide next steps. Rilwan warned that unmet demands could lead to a 21-day ultimatum and an indefinite strike.
Josephine Bassey, NANNM’s Cross River State Chairman, said most demands are administrative, like enforcing existing policies, not just financial.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, urged nurses to pause the strike and keep talking, saying some issues can be solved through dialogue. But nurses are frustrated. One nurse, who stayed anonymous, said, “The government needs to stop playing politics with people’s lives.”
Healthcare Disruptions
The strike has hit patients hard. Some hospitals, like Wuse General Hospital, have discharged emergency patients. Doctors are trying to cover nursing duties, but it’s not enough. NANNM’s Kebbi State chapter apologized for the inconvenience but said, “We care about lives, but we have no choice.”
This dispute highlights deep issues in Nigeria’s healthcare system. If demands aren’t met, NANNM and other health workers, including doctors, may escalate actions, further straining the sector.
Nigerian Nurses Issue 7-Day Strike Notice Over Welfare Demands
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