By Charles Igwe
Nurses across Nigeria have commenced a nationwide warning strike, bringing services in many hospitals to a halt. The action, led by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), began on Tuesday, July 30, and is expected to last for seven days. It follows what the union describes as years of government neglect, poor working conditions, inadequate staffing, and lack of implementation of agreed welfare benefits including shift allowances, core duty allowances, and a revised Scheme of Service.
Hospitals in major cities such as Abuja, Ibadan, Lagos, and Kano have already begun to feel the effects, with patients stranded and departments shutting down. The union has warned that the strike could become indefinite if urgent action is not taken. Attempts at negotiation with the government have so far failed, with union leaders accusing the health ministry of failing to take their demands seriously.
The strike also highlights the worsening brain drain in the country’s healthcare sector, with tens of thousands of nurses having left Nigeria for better opportunities abroad in recent years.
