…nurses boycott duty since midnight Tuesday, association warn of impending indefinite strike
Members of the 25,000-strong National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives–Federal Health Institutions Sector, have begun their planned seven-day warning strike today (Wednesday).
The nurses, who downed tools midnight Tuesday, insisted on completing the seven-day strike even if the government called for negotiations.
The warning strike is coming amid the ongoing faceoff between doctors and government over welfare and other issues.
National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said on Tuesday that the said the strike would involve a total withdrawal of services across all federal health institutions.
He explained that the association gave the government 15 days to respond to their demands but failed to take any action to prevent the strike action.
On July 14, 2025, NANNM issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total shutdown of the nation’s healthcare sector.
The nurses demands include 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.
According to Rilwan, “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.”
The NANNM-FHI chairman stated that the strike was initiated by members who had become fed up with their poor working conditions.
He added, “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 stressed that members were ready for any consequences, including the “no work, no pay” rule.
Rilwan further stated, “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 warned of an impending indefinite strike if at the end of the seven-day warning strike, no reasonable agreement was reached.
He however noted that the association 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.
On reports that nurses in some hospitals may not participate, he clarified that only institutions without financial members of the association are excluded.
He stated, “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.”
