Nationwide Nurses Strike Begins Wednesday as Talks With FG Collapse Over Pay and Welfare Demands
Reporters: Okafor Joseph and Rita Uzuh, Senior Reporters, SpringnewsNG Media Limited
Nigeria’s healthcare system is set to experience fresh disruptions as the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) commences a seven-day nationwide warning strike starting 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, following the collapse of negotiations with the Federal Government.
Efforts by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to prevent the strike ended in deadlock on Tuesday after hours of deliberations in Abuja. The meeting, chaired by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi, had in attendance representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
According to NANNM, the absence of the Minister of Health and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation hampered meaningful progress. The union said the government failed to commit to addressing pay disparities, staffing shortages, hazard allowances, career progression, and improved working conditions.
In a statement signed by Chidi Aligwe, NANNM’s national secretariat confirmed that the strike would proceed as planned and directed its members nationwide to ensure total compliance.
“All the demands of nurses were critically analysed, but no resolution was reached in the overall interest of nurses, midwives, and the Nigerian healthcare system,” the statement read.
The strike is expected to cripple services at public hospitals and primary healthcare centres, already burdened by severe staffing shortages and inadequate infrastructure.
Key Demands of the Nurses Include:
- Implementation of the Nurses Scheme of Service approved by the National Council on Establishment in 2016.
- Execution of the National Industrial Court Judgment of January 27, 2012 (Suit No: NIC/AB316/2020).
- Upward review of professional and hazard allowances for nurses and midwives.
- Employment of more nursing personnel and provision of adequate medical equipment.
- Creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health.
- Inclusion of nurses in health policy decision-making bodies and fair representation in federal health institutions.
- Centralization of internship postings for graduate nurses and consultancy status for qualified nurses and midwives.
The Federal Government has not yet announced any contingency measures, raising fears of widespread service disruption across the country’s health facilities.
