By Abiola Olawale
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has called off a four-day strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government.
The decision, announced on Saturday followed intense negotiations addressing critical issues such as staffing shortages, wages, and workplace safety.
This was disclosed in a circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike”, signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, respectively.
The circular stated that NEC resolved to suspend the strike after an extensive review of the Memorandum of Understanding and the agreed time-bound implementation framework.
The circular reads in part: “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.
“In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect.
“NEC has directed the national leadership to on Saturdaycontinue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.
“State councils are directed to mobilise members for the immediate resumption of duty. NEC resolved that no member of NANNM, including interns and locum nurses, should be victimised for participating in the nationwide strike.
“NEC appreciates the commitment and solidarity of all members throughout this action and reiterates that NANNM remains steadfast in defending the welfare, dignity, and professional rights of all nurses and midwives in Nigeria.”
The New Diplomat reports that on Wednesday, nurses and midwives in Nigeria embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home what they called ” their long-standing demands, including an upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, 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, among others.”
