By Uche Onyeali
National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, has warned of a seven-day warning strike over the federal government’s failure to address its pending demands.
The association had earlier issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, starting July 14, after which it stated that it would embark on industrial action if its demands are not met.
Chairman of the association, Jama Medan gave the hint in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
Mesan said the association is currently mobilising to down tools in primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions across the country.
“We will embark on a seven-day warning strike starting midnight on July 29. After the strike, if the federal government does not respond to us, we will then decide the next line of action,” he said.
He said some of the association’s demands include gazzetting the nurses scheme of service approved by the NCE in 2016 in Minna, Niger State, implementation of the National Industrial Court’s, NIC, judgement of January 27, 2012, upward review of professional allowance for nurses and midwives, employment of nursing personnel and adequate provision of health facility equipment.
He said other demands include creation of a department of nursing in the federal ministry of health, inclusion of nurses in the headship of health policy-making body, fair representation by the association on the board and membership of federal health institutions, centralisation of internship posting for graduate nurses and consultancy for nurses and midwives.
The association is also demanding the withdrawal of the content of the recently released circular on reviewed allowances for health workers (nurses), describing it as “grossly inadequate and discriminatory”.
NANNM also announced the strike in a message on its social media platforms, advising patients to “make alternative plans in advance”.
“All government owned health facilities across the nation will be affected. The federal government has refused to improve the healthcare sector by addressing our demand,” the message reads.
