At last, Nigerian nurses in public health facilities have announced an end to their nationwide strike that began on Wednesday.
The nurses’ professional body, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives,NANNM made the announcement on Saturday, ending the strike that has left public health facilities with only nurses at the management level working.
NANNM’s Assistant Secretary-General, Chidi Aligwe, confirmed on Saturday that the one week’s warning strike, intended to end on Tuesday, has been called off.
He said the action was occasioned by
a virtual meeting of NANNM’s National Executive Council.
“The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately”, he confirmed.
A circular titled,“Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” and signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, also confirmed the development.
The development came a day after the union disclaimed an earlier statement by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, that they called off the industrial action.
The union had blamed the government for its action,citing inability of the federal government to address some of its demands.
Some of the demands include 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.
Recall that executive members of the association held a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Office of the Accountant General, the National Salaries and Wages Commission, and other relevant stakeholders to address its members’ demands.
Vanguard gathered that the association’s NEC resolved to suspend the strike after an extensive review of the Memorandum of Understanding and the agreed time-bound implementation framework.
“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 continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.
“State councils are directed to mobilize members for the immediate resumption of duty. NEC resolved that no member of NANNM, including intern and locum nurses, should be victimized for participating in the nationwide strike, “ the circular read in part.
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