Nigerian Nurses mobilize for protest

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has directed its members to fully comply with the proposed nationwide protest slated for February 27 and 28 over the cost of living crisis in the country.

The NANNM Secretariat gave the directive in a circular signed by its Deputy General Secretary and Acting Head of Department, Industrial Relations, Otaru Shaibu, on Thursday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress had on February 16 declared a two-day protest which would begin after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the federal government which has expired today February 22.

The warning was on account of the alleged failure of the government to implement the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress earlier on February 8 gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet their demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities.

NANNM via a memo titled, “Re: Mobilisation for the nationwide protest rally,” and dated February 21, 2024, urged its members to comply with the directive to make the protest rally a huge success.

The circular addressed to the National Administration Council members, the National Executive Council members, and NANNM, partly read, “The attention of all members of the NAC and NEC is hereby drawn to the above subject matter. The Nigeria Labour Congress has scheduled a nationwide protest rally and all workers have been directed by the national leadership of the congress to embark on the protest, billed for 27th and 28th February 2024.

“All state councils of the association are hereby enjoined to comply with the directive to make the protest rally a huge success.

“Kindly mobilise our members in line with this directive. The NLC letter conveying this directive is hereby attached for your necessary action.”

Meanwhile, the TUC has backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the NLC.

The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, told our correspondent yesterday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

The TUC in a letter dated February 19, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the NLC unilaterally took the decision on the planned protest.

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