Nurses reject FG dialogue, commence warning strike today
Nurses reject FG dialogue, commence warning strike today
Nurses affiliated with the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives–Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) have confirmed that their planned seven-day warning strike will commence on Wednesday.
They pledged to see the strike through to completion, even if the government opens negotiations.
In an interview on Tuesday, NANNM-FHI National Chairman Morakinyo Rilwan stated that the government was given 15 days to address their demands but failed to respond.
The union had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on July 14, 2025, calling for immediate action to avert a complete shutdown of healthcare services.
Some of the demands of the nurses are the upward review of shift allowance, uniform allowance adjustment, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.
Rilwan said, “As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it.
“Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time.
“Fifteen days is enough for them to call us for negotiations. It is because they are not sensitive to the welfare of the masses. That’s why they allowed 15 good days to elapse.”
Rilwan noted that the strike was initiated by members who had grown tired of poor working conditions.
“For over 40 years, we have been patient with them. They subjected us to no provision of gloves or equipment, and for the past 40 years, nurses have not embarked on any strike.
“And we gave them 15 days’ notice. Maybe they are looking at it that these people have not gone on strike for a very long time, so they are not going to go on strike. But they are wrong,” he said.
According to him, members were prepared to face any consequences, including “no work, no pay.”
He said, “This strike is not initiated by the leadership of the union; it was initiated by the members, and they said this is what they want.
“So, we don’t have any option but to allow them to exercise their rights, because they are tired.
“They are not even considering the ‘no work, no pay’ policy, which is the government’s only leverage, because the wages they receive are already insufficient. They are prepared to forgo their pay as long as the strike continues,” he said.
He explained that if no satisfactory agreement is reached after the seven-day warning strike, they will issue a further 21-day ultimatum to the government, as required by labour law, before launching an indefinite strike.
“If the government fails to respond reasonably within those 21 days, we will proceed with a total and indefinite strike,” he added.
Responding to reports that some hospitals might not join the strike, he clarified that only institutions without financial members of the association are exempt.
“No one is withdrawing. Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, and Lagos University Teaching Hospital have not been part of our association due to certain issues. They have opted out over the past three years, so they are not legally eligible to participate in this strike since they are not registered financial members of the association.
“All other hospitals in Lagos, other states, and the Federal Capital Territory are participating in the strike,” he stated.
