The Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), alongside representatives from the Ministry of Labour, as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing warning strike by nurses and midwives across the country.
The meeting, which took place in Abuja, comes amid widespread disruptions in public health institutions nationwide, following the commencement of the industrial action on July 29, 2025. The strike is scheduled to run until August 5, 2025.
NANNM had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on July 14, demanding urgent intervention on long-standing issues affecting nurses, including poor working conditions, unpaid allowances, and general welfare concerns. The union claims that the government failed to respond meaningfully before the deadline lapsed.
In a statement issued by the National Chairman of the association, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, the union expressed dissatisfaction with the government's handling of their grievances, accusing officials of neglect and insincerity.
“As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it. Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time,” Rilwan said.
Friday's meeting is seen as a late attempt by the government to break the deadlock and prevent a total shutdown of healthcare services, especially in federal health institutions where the impact has been most severe.
Though details of the meeting were not disclosed as of press time, sources within the Ministry hinted that the discussions focused on the union's demands and possible compromises to bring an end to the strike.
With just a few days left in the warning strike, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the government will take concrete steps to avert a full-blown industrial crisis in the health sector.
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