Striking Nurses to Review Government Offer

 

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions Sector, says its leadership will meet today (Saturday) to assess the Federal Government’s response to their demands.

This follows a meeting held on Friday between union representatives and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate.

Despite media reports suggesting the strike had been suspended, the union clarified that its ongoing seven-day warning strike, which began on Wednesday, is still in effect.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the union’s National Public Relations Officer, Omomo Tibiebi, explained that the strike has not been called off. According to him, only the association’s leadership can make such a decision.

“The minister was not the one who declared the strike, so he cannot call it off. The strike is still on,” Tibiebi said.

He noted that the National Executive Council of the union will meet today to review the government’s proposals and decide whether to continue or suspend the industrial action.

The nurses are demanding improvements including increased shift and core duty allowances, adjustments to uniform allowance, a dedicated salary structure for nurses, mass recruitment, and the creation of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the strike has caused disruptions across hospitals nationwide. With many nurses absent, healthcare services are limited. Some patients have been discharged due to the shortage of staff, and several wards are either operating on a reduced scale or closed entirely.