The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has clarified that its ongoing nationwide strike will only be suspended, not called off, pending concrete government action to address its demands.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Friday, NANNM’s National Deputy President, Bornbless Obasi, stressed that any decision to suspend or end the strike must first be ratified by the National Executive Council (NEC).
“We are not calling off the strike, even if we want to after our meeting tomorrow. Rather, we will suspend it because we can resume at any time,” Obasi said.
He explained that agreements reached during negotiations with the Ministers of Health and Labour, as well as the Head of Service, remain subject to NEC approval.
Obasi blamed the prolonged industrial action on the federal government’s repeated failure to honour past agreements.
“The problem started with their inability to implement agreements reached earlier,” he said. “Last year, we suspended a planned strike after assurances from the Minister of Health, but nothing was done. The government has simply not kept its promises.”
Responding to calls from the Minister of Health to end the strike, Obasi insisted that due process must be followed.
“We don’t just call off strikes. We reconvene the NEC, review resolutions, and only then decide if the terms are acceptable,” he stated.
While acknowledging the toll on patients, Obasi urged Nigerians to remain patient as the union pushes for a resolution. He also warned hospital administrators against sanctioning nurses involved in the strike.
“No NANNM member should be punished or denied pay for participating. We will take up any such case with the hospital management,” he warned.
The union’s emergency NEC meeting is scheduled for Saturday to decide the next steps based on the latest negotiations.
Erizia Rubyjeana
The post Nurses and Midwives : We’ll Suspend, Not Call Off Strike Amid Government’s Failure to Keep Promises appeared first on Arise News.
