🇳🇬 Nigerian Nurses Call Off Strike After Landmark Deal with the Federal Government
Abuja, Nigeria – August 5, 2025: After a tense week that crippled health services nationwide, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially suspended its week-long industrial action. The decision followed a breakthrough meeting with the Federal Government, where key demands were addressed and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed.
Naijajistreal96 reports that the strike, which began on July 30, 2025, was driven by years of unpaid allowances, poor working conditions, and insufficient staffing levels in public hospitals. During the strike, most hospitals across Nigeria limited their services to emergency cases only, leaving thousands of patients stranded.
💡 What Led to the Strike?
The nurses' union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government in mid-July. When the deadline expired without any tangible response, the strike commenced. Nurses demanded:
- A review of hazard and shift allowances to reflect current economic realities.
- Mass recruitment of new nurses to address the severe staffing shortage in public hospitals.
- Improved working conditions and provision of modern medical equipment.
- The establishment of a dedicated nursing department within the Ministry of Health.
Naijajistreal96 reports that during negotiations, the government acknowledged the severity of these issues and pledged to address them urgently.
🤝 The Agreement
After several hours of intense discussions between the Federal Government, represented by the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, and the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Dingyadi, the following resolutions were reached:
- Implementation of Hazard and Shift Allowances: A new allowance structure will be implemented within the next 60 days.
- Recruitment Drive: Immediate recruitment of over 5,000 nurses nationwide to reduce the workload on existing staff.
- Protection for Nurses: Assurance that no nurse will be victimized or punished for participating in the strike.
- Establishment of Nursing Directorate: A new nursing department will be created within the Ministry of Health to improve policy focus.
🚑 Impact of the Strike
During the strike, hospitals across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt were forced to operate at minimal capacity. Elective surgeries were postponed, outpatient departments were shut, and emergency units were stretched thin. This highlighted the crucial role nurses play in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Naijajistreal96 reports that many patients welcomed the resolution, expressing hope that the agreement would lead to lasting reforms in the sector.
📊 The Bigger Picture
The strike has reignited conversations about Nigeria’s ongoing healthcare brain drain. In the past three years alone, over 42,000 Nigerian nurses have emigrated to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Saudi Arabia in search of better pay and working conditions.
If implemented fully, the new agreement could help retain skilled nurses in Nigeria, reduce patient-to-nurse ratios, and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
🔎 Reactions from Stakeholders
The NANNM President praised nurses for their resilience and urged the government to honor its promises. Meanwhile, healthcare experts warned that unless the reforms are implemented quickly, the cycle of strikes may repeat.
“This agreement is a win for Nigerian healthcare workers, but it must translate into action if we want to keep our nurses from leaving,” a union official told Naijajistreal96.
✅ Conclusion
Naijajistreal96 reports that the suspension of the strike is not the end of the battle but a step towards revamping Nigeria’s healthcare system. The coming months will be crucial as the government begins to implement the signed agreements. Nigerians now wait to see if this long-overdue reform will finally strengthen the country’s fragile health sector.
For more updates on healthcare, politics, and breaking news across Nigeria, keep visiting Naijajistreal96.com.ng.
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