BREAKING: Nurses Call Off 4 Days Strike

BREAKING: Nurses Call Off 4 Days Strike

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called off its nationwide warning strike.

This was confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday by the association’s Assistant Secretary-General, Chidi Aligwe.

The strike, which began on Wednesday, lasted seven days and was aimed at pressing for various long-standing demands, including a review of shift and uniform allowances, the creation of a distinct salary structure for nurses, an increase in core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.

According to NANNM, the decision to suspend the strike followed a virtual meeting of its National Executive Council held on Saturday.

On Friday, the association met with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Accountant General, the National Salaries and Wages Commission, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the demands.

Aligwe said, “The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately.”

A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike,” signed by NANNM’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, also confirmed the suspension.

It stated that the NEC resolved to end the strike after extensively reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding and the agreed time-bound implementation framework.

The circular partly read, “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.

“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.

“NEC has directed the national leadership to continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.

“State councils are directed to mobilise members for the immediate resumption of duty. NEC resolved that no member of NANNM, including interns and locum nurses, should be victimised for participating in the nationwide strike.

“NEC appreciates the commitment and solidarity of all members throughout this action and reiterates that NANNM remains steadfast in defending the welfare, dignity, and professional rights of all nurses and midwives in Nigeria.”