The Minister of Health, Ali Pate, has announced the suspension of the industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting on Friday, Pate revealed that the strike was called off following agreements reached with the association’s leadership.
However, union leaders chose not to comment publicly after the meeting.
The warning strike, which began on July 29, 2025, was triggered by what the association described as the government’s failure to adequately respond to its 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14, 2025.
The action, which affected public health institutions nationwide, was initially set to last until August 5, 2025.
The strike arose from persistent issues surrounding nurses’ welfare, poor working conditions, and the lack of meaningful government engagement.
Among the union’s demands were improved welfare packages, fair allowances, and an overall enhancement of working conditions for nurses in federal health institutions.
The association’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, had earlier lamented the government’s silence during the window for negotiations.
“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,” Rilwan had stated.
Their demands also included an upward review of shift and uniform allowances, the creation of a separate salary structure, increased core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing-specific department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan emphasized that the decision to embark on the strike was a collective one, rooted in widespread discontent over prolonged neglect.