NANNM PROMISES TO SUSPEND NATIONWIDE STRIKE IF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEETS DEMANDS

Read Time:2 Minute, 0 Second

By: Muftau Fatimo

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has announced that it will suspend its nationwide strike once the Federal Government addresses its demands, which are primarily administrative and do not involve financial costs.

Mrs. Josephine Bassey, Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of NANNM, disclosed this in response to the seven-day warning strike declared by the association, which commenced on Wednesday, July 30.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, Bassey stated that the majority of the demands focus on administrative matters, including the implementation of policy documents and the enforcement of court rulings.

She added that another key demand was the gazetting of long-standing approvals by the National Council on Establishments.

“Our demands include the gazetting of the nursing scheme of service approved since 2016 and the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health.

“Another key demand is the centralisation of internship for nursing graduates,” she said.

She further noted that the demands also cover the review of provisional allowances for nurses and midwives, alongside the inclusion of nurses on the boards of federal and state health institutions. Bassey emphasized the pressing need to recruit more nurses to address the critical shortage of personnel in the sector.

Bassey noted that compliance with the strike directive was total, with 100 per cent participation recorded on the first day.

“We started as early as 7:30 am to monitor all health facilities across the state to ensure full compliance,” she said.

According to her, any nurse found violating the strike directive would have been forced out of work and sanctioned at the national level.

“Nurses make up about 60 to 65 per cent of the healthcare workforce.

“If the government truly appreciates the critical role we play in healthcare delivery, it should address our demands promptly,” she stated.

She acknowledged the impact of the strike on patients but urged the public to speak up in support of nurses.

“We understand the pain patients are going through, but we also appeal to them to speak out on our behalf to well-meaning Nigerians and the government so that our concerns can be resolved,” she said.

Bassey stated that Nigerian nurses are prepared to call off the strike and resume duties as soon as their demands are addressed.