Nigerian Nurses Announce 7-Day Warning Strike Over Unmet Allowance Demands

Nigerians nurses to commence 7-day warning strike over unmet demands

Nigerian nurses and midwives are poised to begin a seven-day warning strike starting Tuesday, July 29, 2025, escalating tensions over unresolved demands for improved working conditions. The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) announced the industrial action after a 15-day deadline for the federal government to address longstanding concerns over health worker allowances lapsed without resolution.

The association’s decision, outlined in a circular signed by 2nd National Vice President Orolu Sesan and Deputy General Secretary Elder Otaru Daniel Shaibu, instructs local chapters to mobilize members nationwide. State leaders were directed to hold emergency meetings on Monday, July 28, to finalize strike preparations. The move signals growing frustration among healthcare professionals, who argue that their calls for enhanced compensation and benefits have been repeatedly overlooked.

NANNM emphasized that the strike—a temporary measure—could be averted if the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare negotiates a settlement before the deadline. The warning strike represents a strategic escalation, reflecting broader dissatisfaction within Nigeria’s healthcare sector, where chronic underfunding and staffing shortages have strained public health infrastructure.

While the association did not specify the exact allowances under dispute, such actions typically center on hazard pay, shift differentials, and other incentives critical for retaining medical personnel. The planned work stoppage risks disrupting healthcare services across Africa’s most populous nation, where hospitals already grapple with high patient loads and limited resources.

Industrial actions by Nigerian health workers have grown frequent in recent years, often linked to unmet demands for better wages and working conditions. The upcoming strike underscores persistent challenges in balancing fiscal constraints with the need to maintain a motivated workforce amid rising emigration of medical professionals abroad.

NANNM leaders have urged members to uphold professional ethics during the strike, ensuring emergency services remain operational to minimize risks to patients. Observers note that the government’s response—or lack thereof—could set the tone for further negotiations or prolonged labor disputes, with implications for Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

The standoff highlights the delicate interplay between public sector obligations and employee welfare in developing economies, where resource allocation often sparks tensions between policymakers and essential workers. As the deadline nears, stakeholders await signs of compromise to avert a stoppage that could deepen existing vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s health sector.

Tags:

Recent News

Integrate self-care into national health strategy - Experts to Nigerian govt

Self-Care Integration Key to Easing Nigeria’s Health System Strain

Register in Nigeria's health insurance scheme for your benefit — FG urges cancer patients 

NHIA-Roche Initiative Slashes Cancer Treatment Costs in Nigeria

Cholera outbreak: 13 persons isolated, 297 cases reported in Niger

Niger Cholera Outbreak: 13 Dead, 297 Cases, Children Most Affected

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top