Follow Us on Google
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nurses in federal government-owned healthcare facilities in Abuja stayed away from their duties on Wednesday, July 30, in compliance with the directive of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to embark on a nationwide seven-day warning strike over unresolved labour issues.
At National Hospital, Abuja, and Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, nurses were conspicuously absent from their duty posts. This development forced patients to seek alternatives to the services typically rendered by nurses.
A nurse at National Hospital, Abuja, who pleaded anonymity, accused the Federal Government of being responsible for the avoidable disruption of services in its facilities nationwide.
She said, “The decision for this nationwide strike was taken at the Emergency Meeting of the National Executive Council of the sector held at National Hospital, Abuja, on 10th July 2025.
“This is as a result of failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria/Federal Ministry of Health to take proactive measures to address our concerns and avert this industrial action despite the 15-day ultimatum given from Monday, 14th July, 2025.
“Members have been directed to embark on a 7-day warning strike commenced on 12:00 midnight of Tuesday, 29th July, 2025. This strike is total, and there should not be any skeletal nursing services in any of the Federal Health Institutions (FHI) across the country.”
A nurse at the FMC, Abuja, stated that the strike is not restricted to the FHIs alone but cuts across all health facilities where NANNM members are working.
Other News
Rilwan Olajide, National Chairman of FHI Nurses, said the strike was due to the “insensitivity” of the government to the working conditions and welfare of nurses.
“We had protested last year on a few of these matters, particularly the verification issue. The portal was later opened for verification, but other things were not done. We called the attention of the government to that, but nothing was done.
“Many good hands have left Nigeria for foreign practice, majorly due to remuneration. No recruitment is being done to replace such nurses. Our colleagues are working themselves out without adequate compensation. We need better working conditions and a welfare package,” he said.
He confirmed that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment met with the leadership of NANNM on Monday for discussion, but no resolution was reached because officials from other relevant ministries, especially the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Head of Service, were absent.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the nurses are requesting action on nine items, which include the gazetting of the nurses’ scheme of service approved by the National Council on Establishments (NCE) in 2016 in Minna, Niger State; implementation of the National Industrial Court (NIC) judgment of January 27, 2012 (Suit No: NIC/AB316/2020); and an upward review of professional allowances for nurses and midwives.
Other demands include the employment of nursing personnel and adequate provision of health facility equipment; creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health; inclusion of nurses in the headship of health policy-making bodies; fair representation by the Association on the board and membership in FHIs; centralisation of internship postings for graduate nurses; and consultancy for nurses and midwives.
