The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) on July 31, 2025, firmly restated its resolve to maintain its ongoing seven-day warning strike unless the Federal Government meets critical demands, as the action entered its third day.
During a press conference at the association’s headquarters, President Michael Nnachi outlined non-negotiable conditions, including the immediate disbursement of ₦50 billion in outstanding hazard allowances, the recruitment of 10,000 additional nurses as stipulated in a 2023 agreement, and the implementation of a revised salary structure adjusted for a 35% inflation rate, currently at 33.4% per the National Bureau of Statistics. The strike, initiated on July 29, has severely disrupted healthcare delivery, with 60% of public hospitals operating at reduced capacity, limiting emergency services and prompting a surge in private clinic visits.
Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate responded with a counter-offer of ₦5 billion as an interim solution, emphasizing fiscal constraints within a 2025 health budget of ₦1.3 trillion, which allocates only 4.7% of GDP, far below the 15% target set by the 2001 Abuja Declaration. NANNM rejected this, citing 15 nurse deaths from overwork and burnout in 2024, supported by data from the Nigerian Medical Association, and argued that the government’s delay in fulfilling the 2023 pact exacerbates the crisis.
Negotiations remain stalled, with the government proposing a tripartite committee, while NANNM threatens an indefinite strike post-warning period. The narrative of labor resistance is escalating, reflecting deep-seated issues of underfunding and workforce neglect, with resolution hinging on substantial financial commitment and trust restoration.