Nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, have confirmed they will proceed with their planned seven-day warning strike starting Wednesday.
Despite the potential for government outreach, the union has made it clear that no last-minute negotiations will halt the strike.
In an interview on Tuesday, the National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said the government was given a 15-day notice to respond to their demands but failed to take any action.
The union had issued the ultimatum on July 14, 2025, warning that failure to act would result in a complete disruption of healthcare services nationwide.
Key demands include a review of shift and uniform allowances, a distinct salary structure for nurses, an increase in core duty allowances, large-scale recruitment of nurses, and the creation of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan stated, “So far, we’ve received no response from the government. That’s why the strike will proceed as planned. Even if they reach out now, it’s too late to stop it.”
He stressed that 15 days was more than enough time for authorities to engage the union, and the government’s inaction reflects a lack of concern for healthcare workers and the public.
He added that members are ready to accept any consequences, including the implementation of a “no work, no pay” policy.
“This strike wasn’t pushed by union leaders—it’s coming from the members themselves. They’ve had enough and want their voices heard,” Rilwan said.
He emphasized that nurses have endured poor working conditions for decades without industrial action. “We’ve been patient for over 40 years. We’ve worked without essential tools like gloves or equipment. Yet, we never went on strike,” he noted.
Rilwan suggested that the government may have underestimated the nurses’ resolve due to their long history of tolerance. “They probably assumed we wouldn’t go ahead. But they were wrong,” he concluded.
