Healthcare services at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, were severely impacted on Wednesday as the hospital’s chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) joined a nationwide seven-day warning strike. The industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Tuesday, follows the Federal Government’s failure to address the union’s long-standing demands.

The strike, called by NANNM’s national headquarters, is scheduled to run until Tuesday, August 5, and involves a complete withdrawal of nursing services across all federal health institutions in the country. At a congress held in Ibadan, the UCH NANNM branch chairperson, Mrs. Olufunmilola Faminu, confirmed their participation and appealed to patients for their understanding.

“Sadly we are so concerned about our patients; we don’t intend to leave them stranded without our care,” Faminu stated. “But we have no choice than to embark on this strike; we appeal to our patients to bear with us. This is a just course that we are fighting for.”

The strike is a culmination of a 15-day ultimatum issued by NANNM on July 14, which expired without a meaningful response from the Federal Government. The union’s demands are wide-ranging and critical to the welfare of its members and the improvement of the healthcare system. Key demands include:

• Mass Employment: An urgent need for the government to employ more nurses to address the acute staff shortages fueled by a brain drain in the sector.
• Improved Welfare: A significant upward review of allowances, particularly for shift duties, which nurses say are currently insufficient and have not been updated in over 20 years.
• Professional Recognition: The creation of a dedicated Department of Nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health and the full implementation of the gazetted nurses’ scheme of service approved since 2016.
• Better Working Conditions: The provision of adequate facilities, modern equipment, and a safe working environment to curb medical errors and enhance the quality of care.

The national chairman of NANNM, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, confirmed that the government’s failure to engage with the union’s ultimatum made the strike inevitable. He noted that the decision was driven by the frustration of its members and that they were prepared to face consequences, including the “no work, no pay” policy.

With nurses providing an estimated 60-70 percent of all hospital services, the warning strike is expected to cripple services, especially in critical areas like emergency rooms, surgical wards, and maternity units. The union has warned that should the government fail to meet their demands after this seven-day action, they would issue a fresh 21-day ultimatum, paving the way for a total and indefinite strike.