Nationwide strike begins today as nurses ignore FG’s intervention efforts

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives – Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) has confirmed that it will commence a seven-day warning strike on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, as previously announced.

Speaking on Tuesday, National Chairman Morakinyo Rilwan stated that the federal government had been issued a 15-day ultimatum to address the union’s demands but failed to take meaningful action. As a result, nurses across federal health institutions will down tools for a week in protest.

“Our members are resolved. The time for dialogue has passed, and we are ready to begin the strike. We gave enough notice, but nothing was done,” Rilwan said.

The union, on July 14, 2025, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.

Some of the demands of the nurses are the upward review of shift allowance, uniform allowance adjustment, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.

Rilwan said, “As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it.

“Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time.

“Fifteen days is enough for them to call us for negotiations. It is because they are not sensitive to the welfare of the masses. That’s why they allowed 15 good days to elapse.”

Rilwan noted that the strike was initiated by members who had grown tired of poor working conditions.

“For over 40 years, we have been patient with them. They subjected us to no provision of gloves or equipment, and for the past 40 years, nurses have not embarked on any strike.

“And we gave them 15 days’ notice. Maybe they are looking at it that these people have not gone on strike for a very long time, so they are not going to go on strike. But they are wrong,” he said.

According to him, members were prepared to face any consequences, including “no work, no pay.”

He said, “This strike is not initiated by the leadership of the union; it was initiated by the members, and they said this is what they want.

“So, we don’t have any option but to allow them to exercise their rights, because they are tired.

“They are not even contemplating ‘no work, no pay,’ because that is the only language the government can use, and they are ready because the money they are taking is not even enough for them.

“They are ready to sacrifice that as long as this strike continues.”

He explained that after the seven-day warning strike, if no reasonable agreement was reached, they would give another 21-day ultimatum to the government, according to labour law, before proceeding on an indefinite strike.

“If the 21 days elapse and there is no reasonable response from the government, we would embark on a total and indefinite strike,” he added.

Addressing reports that some hospitals may not participate, he clarified that only institutions without financial members of the association are excluded.

“Nobody is pulling out. Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, have not been part of our association because of some issues.

“They have opted out of the association for the past three years, so they are not legally covered to participate in this strike because they are not legitimate financial members of the association.

“Other hospitals in Lagos and other states, including the Federal Capital Territory, are joining the strike,” he said.

(Punch)