…Nurses initiating 7-day warning strike
Nigeria’s neatly being sector is determined for yet any other major disaster, as every the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and the Nationwide Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, occupy issued strike notices over longstanding grievances in opposition to the Federal Authorities, elevating fears of a total crumple of public healthcare companies.
While the NMA, has handed the Federal Authorities a 21-day ultimatum to meet its demands or face a total and indefinite nationwide strike by medical doctors, nurses under the aegis of NANNM, the day before at the moment began a seven-day warning strike following the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum, shutting down nursing companies in federal hospitals all over the nation.
NMA points ultimatum
Rising from its Emergency Delegates Meeting, EDM, held on July 26, 2025, in Abuja, the NMA expressed disappointment over the lingering negotiations with the Federal Authorities on points affecting doctors’ welfare, particularly the controversial spherical from the Nationwide Salaries, Earnings and Wages Commission, NSIWC, on the analysis of the Consolidated Medical Wage Scale, CONMESS.
In response to a conversation signed by NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu and Secretary General, Dr. Jamin Egbo, the spherical used to be finest suspended, now not withdrawn, because the NMA had demanded.
The meeting used to be convened on the occasion of the Nationwide Officers Committee, NOC, primarily primarily primarily based on delays within the cost of seven-month arrears from the 25/35% CONMESS adjustment, failure to enforce previously signed Collective Bargaining Agreements, CBAs, and the govt.’s long-established neglect of the neatly being sector.
The conversation reads in share, “The EDM following extensive deliberations unanimously condemned the attitude of the Federal Government to the welfare of its members and the persistent attitude of government officials to issues affecting Nigerian doctors,”
“The EDM issued a 21-day undercover agent of a total and indefinite strike in accordance with the relevant labour criminal pointers efficient from July 27, 2025 ought to the Authorities fail to condominium its demands comprehensively within this period.
“The EDM stays optimistic that the Authorities in its scenario to the neatly being wants of Nigerian electorate, and the welfare of the patriotic Nigerian doctors working tirelessly under injurious circumstances and economic realities can be responsive to those issues to avert this impending industrial disharmony within the neatly being sector.
“The EDM mandated the NOC and the NTNT to bring their experience to bear in all engagements with the Nigerian government to deliver tangible results to the Nigerian doctor.”
The NMA expressed gratitude to its delegates from the 36 states and the FCT, and advised all doctors to dwell steadfast. It additionally reviewed the Memorandum of Figuring out signed with govt representatives and expressed scenario over “some inadequacies.”
Nurses open warning strike
Meanwhile, nurses under the NANNM umbrella, the day before at the moment commenced a 7-day warning strike all over all federal neatly being institutions, together with Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres, after a 15-day ultimatum expired with out govt response.
The strike, declared total, began the day before at the moment tiresome night time and impacts all nursing companies nationwide.
In a spherical signed by NANNM Nationwide Secretary, Comrade Enya Osinachi, the union directed all devices to withdraw companies correct now.
The consciousness reads, “Following the resolution taken by the Nationwide Executive Council of the Sector for the length of the Emergency Meeting held at Nationwide Health center, Abuja on Tenth July, 2025 and subsequent to the directive of the Nationwide headquarters of the affiliation, you are hereby directed to embark on 7-day warning strike starting off from 12:00 tiresome night time of Tuesday July 29, 2025.
“Here is on narrative of failure of the Federal Authorities of Nigeria/Federal Ministry of Health to rob proactive measures to condominium our issues and avert this industrial action no topic the 15-day ultimatum given from Monday July 14., 2025.
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“This strike action is total and there should not be any skeletal nursing services in any of the Federal health Institutions across the country. Thank you in anticipation as we expect full compliance from all members.”
Earlier in July, NANNM Nationwide Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, had criticised the new analysis of nurses’ allowances as insufficient, stating that it failed to condominium key welfare points akin to insufficient allowances for night time shifts, weekend shifts, and miserable name-responsibility compensation.
Among their demands are the creation of a Division of Nursing on the Federal Ministry of Health, upward analysis of shift responsibility and specialist allowances, a staunch and conducive work atmosphere, and neatly-geared up hospitals to curb outbound medical tourism.
