Nurses and Midwives Calls for Urgent Federal Intervention to Avoid Industrial Action

Story Summary:

• The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has called on the Federal Government to urgently address their key demands, including the re-opening of the certificate verification portal and the payment of overdue salaries.
• The association has issued a 15-day ultimatum for the government to meet these demands, warning that failure to act could lead to an industrial crisis.
• Additional requests include the establishment of a dedicated nursing services department, the gazetting of the 2016 nurses’ scheme of service, and improvements in equipment and employment within the health sector.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address its pressing demands to prevent an impending industrial crisis.

In a news conference following a meeting with officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on Friday, Michael Nnachi, the National President of NANNM, emphasised the critical nature of these issues.

Nnachi highlighted the association’s primary concerns, which include the re-opening of the nurses and midwives certificate verification portal, the payment of overdue salaries for staff of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and the constitution of the board. Additional demands include the establishment of a special salary structure for nurses and an immediate review of nurses’ professional allowances.

Nnachi urged the Federal Government to meet these demands within the 15-day ultimatum issued during the association’s National Executive Council meeting in August. He stressed that addressing these issues promptly would alleviate the severe socio-economic hardships faced by nurses and help mitigate the ongoing brain drain within the sector.

The association also seeks the creation of a dedicated department for nursing services within the Federal Ministry of Health and the gazetting of the nurses’ scheme of service, which was approved in 2016.

Furthermore, Nnachi called for NANNM representation on the boards of tertiary health institutions, the provision of functional equipment at various health facilities, the centralisation of internship postings for graduate nurses, and increased employment of nursing personnel. He also advocated for consultancy opportunities for members of the West African Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery, as well as additional welfare packages for nurses and midwives.