The Nigerian Government has appealed to Nurses and Midwives to shelve their planned industrial action and return to the negotiating table.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi made the call in Abuja while interacting with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting aims to avert the proposed strike.
The Minister stressed that strike is not the best solution to industrial disputes urging them to embrace dialogue while the government “continues to work on addressing their concerns“.
A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs Patience Onuobia said the meeting will continue on Friday at the Ministry of Health “as the government works out resolutions to the dispute“.
The Chairman of the Association Morakinyo Rilwan, on Tuesday, stated that the Federal Government failed “to engage meaningfully with the Association during the window provided.
“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 stated.
The nurses’ demands include the upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, implementation of a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan stressed that the decision to embark on strike was not unilaterally taken by the union’s leadership, but driven by “frustration among members over long-standing neglect.
“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.
“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 also noted that the profession had endured poor conditions for decades while waiting for the right things to be done.
“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,” he said.
The intervention by the Minister however, did not deter the health workers from carrying out their threat of commencing the industrial action on Wednesday at the expiration their 15-day ultimatum issued on 14 July, 2025.
The warning strike according to the Association, will end on Tuesday 5th of August 2025.
At the expiration of the warning strike, the Association said it would serve a fresh 21 days notice to the government in line with labour laws and if no positive response is seen will have no choice but to down tools.
Lateefah Ibrahim