Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s health minister, misled journalists on Friday by claiming the nationwide warning strike by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) had been suspended after what he called “productive discussions” with union leaders.
NANNM has confirmed that Pate misinformed the press. The strike is still on and no decision has been made to resume work.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, Pate told The Guardian and The Punch that both parties had reached an agreement. He added that services would soon return to normal at federal hospitals.
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However, NANNM’s leadership quickly contradicted the minister’s claim. Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, chairman of NANNM’s Federal Health Institutions sector, said the strike had not been suspended and that the minister spoke too soon.
“It is not true. We have procedures in place whenever we initiate or suspend strike actions. Those procedures have not been followed, and the union has not issued any statement to that effect,” he said told Premium Times.
The Punch also quoted the union’s spokesperson, Omomo Tibiebi, to have said that the strike is still in effect.
The strike began on Wednesday, after NANNM declared a seven-day warning action. It is the first nationwide strike by Nigerian nurses in over 20 years.
The union had given the federal government a 15-day ultimatum, which expired on July 14, warning that it would down tools if its demands were not met.
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The nurses are asking for an upward review of shift and uniform allowances. They want a separate salary structure and specialty allowances for nurses.
They are also demanding the creation of a dedicated department for nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health and mass recruitment to address growing staff shortages.
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