The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions sector (NANNM-FHI), says it will hold a crucial meeting today (Saturday) to deliberate on the offers presented by the Federal Government following ongoing negotiations.
The union, which declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike on Wednesday, maintained that the industrial action has not been suspended, contrary to some media reports.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the National Public Relations Officer of NANNM-FHI, Omomo Tibiebi, clarified that although union leaders met with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, earlier in the day, no decision had been taken to end the strike.
“The strike has not been suspended. It is still ongoing,” Tibiebi stated. “The minister addressed the press, saying the strike was called off, but he didn’t call the strike in the first place and cannot unilaterally declare it suspended.”
The nurses’ strike is aimed at pressing home several long-standing demands.
These include a separate salary structure for nurses, upward review of shift and uniform allowances, increased core duty allowance, the establishment of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health, and large-scale recruitment of nurses to fill existing workforce gaps.
Tibiebi revealed that the union’s National Executive Council would convene today to assess the Federal Government’s proposals and determine the way forward.
“There will be a National Executive Council meeting today (Saturday), and that’s when a decision will be made,” he said. “We’ll review the promises made and determine whether they are good enough to justify suspending the strike.”
Meanwhile, hospitals across the country continue to grapple with the effects of the strike.
Patient care has been severely disrupted in many government-owned health institutions, with a sharp reduction in available nursing staff.
Reports from various facilities indicate that several wards have been shut down entirely, while others are running skeletal services. In some cases, patients have been discharged due to the absence of nursing personnel, putting additional strain on the few staff still working.
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As the strike enters its fourth day, both health workers and patients await the outcome of the union’s Saturday deliberations.
