Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Suspend Strike Pending Government Action

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has announced that its ongoing nationwide strike will be suspended but not called off, pending decisive action from the Nigerian government to fulfill its commitments. In an interview on ARISE NEWS, Bornbless Obasi, the National Deputy President of NANNM, emphasized that any decision regarding the strike must first receive approval from the National Executive Council (NEC).

Obasi clarified, “We are not calling off the strike, even if we want to after our meeting tomorrow. Rather, we will suspend it because we can resume at any time.” He explained that the terms of previous negotiations with the Ministers of Health and Labour, along with the Head of Service, remain contingent upon NEC ratification.

The union leader attributed the ongoing industrial action to the federal government’s repeated failure to honor previous agreements. “The problem started with their inability to implement agreements reached earlier,” Obasi stated. “Last year, we suspended a planned strike after assurances from the Minister of Health, but nothing was done. The government has simply not kept its promises.”

Obasi’s comments follow calls from the Minister of Health urging the union to end the strike. He maintained that due process must be adhered to, stating, “We don’t just call off strikes. We reconvene the NEC, review resolutions, and only then decide if the terms are acceptable.”

While acknowledging the negative impact of the strike on patient care, Obasi urged the public to remain patient as the union seeks a resolution. He also issued a warning to hospital administrators regarding potential punitive actions against nurses participating in the strike. “No NANNM member should be punished or denied pay for participating. We will take up any such case with the hospital management,” he warned.

An emergency meeting of the NEC is scheduled for Saturday to determine the next steps based on the latest negotiations with government officials. The outcome of this meeting may pave the way for a resolution to the ongoing conflict, which has drawn significant attention across Nigeria.