The Federal Government has appealed to striking health professionals, particularly nurses, to end their nationwide industrial action and return to the negotiation table, assuring them that all lingering disputes can be resolved through constructive dialogue.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made this appeal while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Prof. Pate disclosed that talks with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and other health unions have been scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2025, with the government determined to address the grievances fueling the strike.
“The Federal Government is committed to dialogue, not confrontation. We understand their concerns and steps have been taken to address some of these issues,” Pate said.
The Minister also revealed that FEC approved the establishment of an Oncology Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, stressing that the Tinubu administration remains focused on transforming Nigeria’s healthcare system despite the current disruptions.
Union Holds Ground: ‘Action First, Then Talks’
But NANNM says it is not backing down until the government moves beyond promises to tangible action.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the union’s National Chairman, Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, reaffirmed the nurses’ stance:
“The strike continues until the government acts decisively. We’ve been patient, but our voices have gone unheard. We don’t want to strike – it’s against our nature as caregivers – but when pushed to the wall, this becomes our only option.”
The industrial action, which began after the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14, has crippled essential healthcare services nationwide. Hospitals are struggling, patients are stranded, and emergency units are overwhelmed.
Core Demands: What Nurses Want
The union’s demands include:
Official gazetting of a revised scheme of service for nurses.
Implementation of updated allowances, including specialty allowances.
Improved remuneration and working conditions.
Increased recruitment of nurses nationwide.
READ ALSO: Nurses Vows to Sustain Strike Until Govt Acts
Creation of a dedicated nursing department at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Nurses also decry the current ₦20,000 annual uniform allowance as “grossly inadequate,” calling it a symbol of systemic neglect.
Negotiation Deadlock
Despite a recent high-level meeting with Labour Minister Muhammadu Dingyadi, the union says progress has been minimal. Dingyadi has again appealed for calm, urging the union to return to negotiations.
“The government remains open to resolving this impasse through dialogue,” he assured.
However, NANNM insists that until practical measures are implemented, the strike will continue.
“We’ll return to work only when tangible steps are taken,” Morakinyo reiterated.
The Bigger Picture
With Kwara and several other states fully joining the strike, the nationwide action underscores deep-seated frustration in Nigeria’s health sector.
As talks resume Friday, the question remains: Will dialogue break the deadlock—or will Nigeria’s healthcare crisis deepen?