Nationwide Nurses’ Strike Set to Disrupt Healthcare Services from Wednesday

Hospitals across Nigeria are expected to experience significant disruptions starting Wednesday, as nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) Sector, commence a seven-day nationwide warning strike.

The industrial action will affect 74 federal health institutions, as well as various state hospitals and primary health centres. Services at federal medical centres, teaching hospitals, and specialist facilities are anticipated to be severely impacted.

This protest follows a 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14, 2025, by the union to the Federal Government, demanding urgent action on several longstanding grievances to avoid a complete collapse of the healthcare system.

Despite the deadline, the Federal Government has not initiated any dialogue with the union.

Speaking to our correspondent, NANNM-FHI National Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, stated that the strike was inevitable due to continued neglect from the government. Among the union’s key demands are a revised shift allowance, uniform allowance review, establishment of a unique salary structure for nurses, enhancement of the core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nursing staff, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.

He explained that nurses are unfairly grouped with other health professionals on the same salary scale, despite their distinctive roles and responsibilities.

“We want a dedicated salary scale that reflects the uniqueness and demands of the nursing profession,” Rilwan said. “Nurses work around the clock, including dangerous night shifts, yet we receive only 6.8% as shift allowance, far below the 30% stipulated in a 2009 circular.”

He further criticized the long-standing uniform allowance of N20,000 per annum, unchanged in over two decades, despite the need for constant replacement of uniforms due to their white colour and hygiene standards.

“Doctors recently had their lab coat allowances reviewed, but nurses were excluded, despite similar long-standing entitlements,” he added.

The union is also calling for an increase in the core duty allowance from 1.7% to 4% and is pushing for the activation of a Nursing Department led by a full director within the Ministry of Health. Rilwan noted that although a scheme of service was approved in 2016 to define ranks and responsibilities, it has not been implemented to date.

He lamented the lack of basic supplies in many hospitals, such as gloves, syringes, and gauze, forcing nurses to improvise under risky conditions.

“The government claims there’s a nursing shortage, but we train over 10,000 nurses annually. The problem is underemployment and poor remuneration, which pushes many into private hospitals or out of the country,” he noted.

Rilwan also demanded the immediate reconstitution of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Board, which has remained dissolved for over four years.

He confirmed the strike would cut across all levels of healthcare delivery—affecting teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, orthopaedic and psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals, and primary health centres across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government areas.

National PRO of the association, Omomo Tibiebi, added that the strike would be total, with no services—including emergencies—available during the warning strike period.

“The 15-day notice ends at midnight on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The strike begins on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. with no exemptions for emergency services,” Tibiebi stressed.