The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has refuted claims by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, that nurses in public hospitals have suspended their ongoing warning strike.
Speaking through its National Public Relations Officer, Omomo Tibiebi, the union insisted that the industrial action, which began last Wednesday, is still in full force despite a meeting held with the minister on the matter.
“The strike has not been suspended. Earlier today, the NANNM executives met with the Coordinating Minister, but it was the minister who went to the press to say the strike was called off. He wasn’t the one that declared the strike, so he has no authority to call it off. The strike is still on,” Tibiebi stated.
He explained that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) will meet on Saturday to review the Federal Government’s promises and decide on the next steps.
“There will be a NEC meeting tomorrow, and that’s when a decision will be made. We will determine if what the Federal Government has promised is satisfactory enough to suspend the strike,” he added.
The nurses embarked on the industrial action to press for several demands, including an upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, creation of a separate salary structure for nurses, an increase in core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
