Health Minister, Professor Ali Pate, on Friday, August 1, held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
The meeting marked the government’s latest attempt to end the ongoing seven-day warning strike by nurses and midwives.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Labour also joined the high-stakes.
The strike, which began on July 29, 2025, has disrupted services across public hospitals nationwide.
Despite previous appeals, nurses and midwives have continued the industrial action.
They accused the government of ignoring their demands for improved welfare, fair compensation, and better working conditions.
Earlier this month, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum on July 14.
However, government officials failed to act decisively before the deadline expired.
In response, NANNM members began the strike and insisted they would not back down.
NANNM National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, strongly criticized the government’s silence during the ultimatum period.
He said union members waited patiently, but received no serious communication.
“We gave them enough time to engage us, but nothing happened. Now that the strike has started, they cannot stop it halfway,” Rilwan said firmly.
The union has outlined specific demands. These include:
- Upward review of shift and uniform allowances,
- Separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowances,
- Mass recruitment of nurses, and the creation of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan explained that the strike decision did not come from the top leadership alone.
Rather, members across the country pushed for action after years of unmet promises.
“This strike reflects the frustration of our members. They feel neglected, disrespected, and overworked,” he added.
So far, the Health Ministry has not released details from the meeting.
However, pressure continues to mount on the government to resolve the crisis before the warning strike ends on August 5, 2025.
If no agreement emerges soon, the union may escalate the strike, potentially triggering a full-blown healthcare shutdown.