Nurses under the University College Hospital, UCH, branch of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, have joined a nationwide warning strike.
They urged patients to understand the necessity of their action, which they described as a last resort in the face of longstanding neglect by the Federal Government.
The warning strike, which began at midnight on July 29, 2025, is scheduled to last for seven days and will end on August 5.
It was declared by the national leadership of NANNM following what they termed the government’s persistent failure to address the urgent demands of Nigerian nurses and midwives.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Wednesday, the UCH NANNM branch chairperson, Mrs. Olufunmilola Farinu, said the strike became inevitable after the association’s congress reviewed the government’s continued inaction.
She added that while the nurses are deeply concerned about patients, the strike is a fight for the survival and dignity of the profession.
“We are deeply pained to leave our patients, but we have exhausted all peaceful avenues. This is a just cause,” Farinu said. “We appeal to patients to bear with us during this trying time.”
According to Farinu, the association’s demands include the recruitment of more nursing personnel, adequate hospital facilities, and the creation of a Directorate for Nursing Services in the Federal Ministry of Health.
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She explained that nurses and midwives across the country are overburdened due to staff shortages, with many working extra shifts without appropriate compensation or support.
The lack of proper equipment and infrastructure in most federal hospitals also compromises the quality of care and puts patients and healthcare workers at risk.
NANNM is also advocating for the centralisation of internship training, improved and uniform allowances, and equitable representation within the health ministry, arguing that nurses have been structurally marginalised for decades despite forming the backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Our demands are not new. We’ve tabled them time and again. What we are asking for is fairness, professional recognition, and the tools we need to serve patients better,” she added.
While the strike is expected to disrupt regular operations in hospitals nationwide, Farinu assured the public that other healthcare professionals remain on duty to handle emergencies.
She emphasized that nurses were left with no choice but to embark on the action after years of neglect and failed promises.
“This warning strike is only the beginning,” Farinu said. “If the government fails to respond meaningfully by August 5, we will issue a 21-day ultimatum and escalate the action into a full, indefinite strike.”
NAN
