By Sunday Apah
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially ended its nationwide warning strike.
Chidi Aligwe, the Assistant Secretary-General of NANNM, shared this update with our correspondent on Saturday.
The strike began on Wednesday, with nurses and midwives across Nigeria engaging in a seven-day warning protest to highlight various long-standing issues, such as the need for an increase in shift allowance, adjustments to uniform allowance, a distinct salary structure for nurses, an increase in core duty allowance, recruitment of more nursing personnel, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
The decision to suspend the strike was made on Saturday after a virtual meeting of NANNM’s National Executive Council (NEC).
On Friday, representatives from the association held discussions with officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Accountant General, the National Salaries and Wages Commission, and other key stakeholders to further address their concerns.
Aligwe stated, “The strike has been officially lifted. Nurses and midwives should return to work immediately.”
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike,” which was signed by NANNM’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, confirmed this decision.
The circular noted that the NEC concluded the suspension of the strike after a thorough assessment of the Memorandum of Understanding and the agreed timeframes for implementation.
The document included the statement, “NEC recognizes the positive actions taken by the Federal Government in addressing the nine key demands of NANNM, especially regarding the establishment of clear timelines for execution.
“In light of the formal agreement achieved, and adhering to the principles of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action effective immediately.
“NEC has instructed the national leadership to continue overseeing the implementation of the signed MoU and to monitor the government’s adherence to the agreed deadlines.
“State councils are to mobilize their members for an immediate return to duty. The NEC has resolved that no NANNM member, including interns and locum nurses, shall face retaliation for participating in the nationwide strike.
“NEC appreciates the dedication and support of all members throughout this period and reaffirms that NANNM is committed to safeguarding the welfare, dignity, and professional rights of all nurses and midwives in Nigeria.”
