Nigerian Nursing Strike Enters Third Day: Government Meets Strikers as Health Services Disrupted
The Nigerian government has scheduled a meeting with leaders of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) today, aiming to resolve the ongoing nationwide strike that has disrupted healthcare services across the country. As the strike enters its third day, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has confirmed the engagement to address the striking nurses’ demands.
The strike began on Wednesday after the expiry of a 15-day ultimatum issued by NANNM on concerns including inadequate remuneration, staff shortages, unpaid allowances, and unsafe working conditions in healthcare facilities.
Hospitals nationwide have grappled with significant staffing gaps, with doctors struggling to fill the void left by striking nurses. The strike’s impact on patient care is concerning, given Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system, which faces challenges such as shortages of medical supplies and equipment.
Morakinyo Rilwan, the president of NANNM, has expressed skepticism about the upcoming meeting. “Negotiation continues on Friday between the association and the Ministry of Health,” Rilwan said, “but I don’t see any positive outcome. We will do the seven-day warning strike to the end.”
The ongoing strike underscores the desperate working conditions of Nigerian nurses, many of whom feel undervalued and overworked. With the government now engaged in talks, the hopes of patients and healthcare workers alike rest on a swift resolution to improve the nation’s healthcare sector.
The meeting is expected to explore potential solutions to the pressing issues raised by NANNM, with the aim of restoring healthcare services to full capacity as soon as possible. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the well-being of its citizens.
