The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially announced the suspension of its nationwide warning strike, instructing all members to return to work immediately.
This directive marks an early end to the industrial action, which was initially scheduled to last until next Tuesday.
Chidi Aligwe, the Assistant Secretary-General of NANNM, confirmed the development on Saturday, revealing that the decision to call off the strike was reached during a virtual session of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC). “The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately,” Aligwe stated.
This new turn of events comes just one day after the union publicly rejected a statement made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammad Pate, who had earlier claimed that the strike had been terminated. The union at the time dismissed the minister’s remarks, asserting that the industrial action remained in effect due to the federal government’s failure to address their grievances.
The nurses and midwives had embarked on the strike to press home several demands which, according to the union, had long been neglected by the authorities. Their concerns ranged from the need for an upward review of shift and core duty allowances, to the implementation of a distinct salary structure specifically for nurses. Other issues included a revision of the uniform allowance, large-scale recruitment of qualified nurses, and the establishment of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike”—signed by NANNM’s National President Haruna Mamman and General Secretary T.A. Shettima—further confirmed the NEC’s resolution to end the strike. The document stated that the NEC recognized the “positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM,” emphasizing the administration’s clear commitment to specific timelines for implementing the agreed reforms.
“In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect,” the circular read. It also instructed state branches of the union to mobilize their members for an immediate return to work.
The NEC urged continued oversight of the federal government’s compliance with the terms set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), especially concerning the proposed time-bound implementation framework. Importantly, the association resolved that no nurse—whether full-time, intern, or locum—should face any form of retribution for participating in the strike action.
Prior to the suspension, union leaders had engaged in a series of high-level meetings with government bodies, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Head of Service, the Office of the Accountant General, and the National Salaries and Wages Commission. These sessions were aimed at addressing and resolving the demands that prompted the strike in the first place.
Reports indicated that the NEC opted to suspend the strike after thoroughly reviewing the contents of the MoU and finding satisfaction in the agreed-upon framework for implementation.
What You Should Know
The decision by Nigerian nurses and midwives to end their warning strike reflects a renewed commitment by both the union and the federal government to engage in constructive dialogue.
With the suspension in place, attention now shifts to the actual implementation of the agreed reforms, including improved allowances and structural changes within the health sector.
The union has made it clear that the strike may not be the last if the government fails to meet its obligations within the specified timelines.
