The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions sector, NANNM-FHI, has issued a seven-day strike notice to the Federal Government, citing long-standing grievances over poor welfare conditions, inadequate allowances, and unfavourable working environments.
In a statement signed by the association’s National Secretary, Nurse Enya Osinachi, and made public by its President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, NANNM-FHI warned that nurses across all federal health institutions would begin a total service withdrawal from 12 midnight on Tuesday, July 29, if their demands were not addressed.
The decision came after an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on July 10, where union leaders reviewed what they described as the Federal Government’s “continued disregard” for the plight of nurses and failure to act on earlier ultimatums.
The association had earlier issued a 15-day notice on July 14, hoping to initiate dialogue with the Ministry of Health and other federal authorities. However, according to the union, that window closed without any meaningful engagement or commitment from the government.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” the union said. “But our members have been pushed to the brink. They deliver between 60 to 70 percent of healthcare services in hospitals, yet their contributions are ignored and undervalued.”
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NANNM-FHI is particularly angered by a controversial circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission on June 27, which the union claims downgraded or sidelined key allowances such as shift duty, call duty, and retention bonuses. The association is demanding the immediate reversal of the circular and comprehensive adjustments that reflect the true value of nurses’ labour.
Beyond financial concerns, the union also highlighted broader issues such as working conditions, staffing shortages, and burnout among Nigerian nurses — a situation they argue is driving many professionals out of the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
Union leaders are urging the Federal Government to see the looming strike as an opportunity to take corrective action, rather than a confrontation.
“The government must understand that the future of healthcare in Nigeria depends on a well-supported nursing workforce. We are not asking for luxury; we are asking for fairness, dignity, and recognition for our essential role in saving lives,” the statement said.
NANNM-FHI also encouraged nurses nationwide to stand united during the industrial action and to refrain from providing services in federal health institutions during the strike.
NAN
