AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike following a meeting with federal government officials in Abuja.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made the announcement on Friday, shortly after a closed-door session with leaders of the association.
He said the decision to call off the industrial action came after both parties reached a number of agreements.
Although the union leaders were present at the meeting, they declined to speak with journalists afterward.
The association had commenced the strike on July 29, citing the federal government’s failure to address key demands, including improved welfare, better allowances, and enhanced working conditions in federal health facilities.
Earlier, NANNM’s National Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, accused the government of ignoring a 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14. He insisted at the time that the strike would proceed regardless of any late interventions, saying, “Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time.”
Among the association’s demands were a review of shift and uniform allowances, the implementation of a distinct salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowances, large-scale recruitment of nurses, and the establishment of a separate nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan had previously described the strike as a last resort, citing years of systemic neglect and mounting frustration among nurses and midwives across the country.
While details of the agreement remain undisclosed, the suspension of the strike is expected to bring relief to patients and healthcare institutions affected by the nationwide action.
