The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives—Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) has insisted that the federal government take the initiative and meet some of its core demands as the nationwide warning strike declared by the union enters day three.
Comrade Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, National Chairman of the NANNM-FHI, restated the Union’s position, saying that mere assurances will not stop the strike, warning that it will continue till the federal government meets some of its core demands.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Rilwan, who detailed many outstanding concerns that prompted the strike, stated that the government’s appeals for discussion and reconciliation would be ignored unless it made real commitments.
Rilwan maintained that industrial action was the union’s final alternative in the face of what he called the government’s insensitivity and extended delays.
He stated that meetings with government representatives to end the strike have been mostly inconclusive and that the union expects a signed agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He also emphasised that the Union will not call off the strike in order for its demands to be considered.
“That is what the government will definitely ask for—that we should suspend the strike so they can look at our demands. We are not comfortable with that. We have to make sure that parts of the demand are attended to before we can suspend the strike at all.
“It’s not actually in the nurses’ attitude to embark on a strike, and we have been patient enough because we are compassionate. Nurses are empathetic with their patients; we love our patients and don’t want anything to happen to them.
“But we waited for a long time for all these demands to be met. So, this strike happens to be the last option we have to get the government’s attention.
“We must see commitment; based on the insincerity and insensitivity on the part of the government, I believe some parts of these demands must be met before we can suspend the strike. We have to see serious commitment from the government before taking that step,” he noted.
Rilwan said the union gave the government adequate time to reply to their concerns before embarking on the 7-day warning strike, but nothing was done, and he regretted that conversations with government representatives to end the strike were generally inconclusive.
“The Minister of Labour invited the leadership on Tuesday, which was the last day of that ultimatum, but the meeting ended in a deadlock because those that were supposed to be on the ground at the meeting were not there, especially our mother ministry. The Minister of Health was not there, and the Head of Service of the Federation was not there, so the meeting ended in a deadlock.
“As of yesterday too, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare invited the leadership, and the meeting was still inconclusive; probably it will continue either today or Friday.
“There is no tentative agreement. We have to reach an agreement before we can say the meeting is conclusive. There has to be an MoU signed by the stakeholders before we can say the meeting is conclusive,” Rilwan noted.
The union embarked on the 7-day strike after the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the federal government on July 14.
Although the NANNM met with the Minister of Labour, Muhammadu Dingyadi, on Tuesday, talks broke down due to the absence of key stakeholders such as the Minister of Health and the Head of Civil Service.
The nurses’ list of demands includes the publication of the nurses’ scheme of service, an upward review of allowances, recognition and funding for specialist nurses, increased recruitment across federal health institutions, improved remuneration structures, and the establishment of a dedicated department at the Federal Ministry of Health.
