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Strike called off following closed-door talks between nurses and Health Minister
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NANNM leaders silent on details of agreement reached with government
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Industrial action began July 29 over unmet demands despite 15-day ultimatum
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government, following intense negotiations that concluded on Friday, August 1.
Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, announced the suspension while addressing journalists in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with union executives. He stated that a consensus had been reached with the leadership of the nursing body, which prompted the immediate suspension of the strike action.
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“The strike has been suspended. The government and the association have reached some level of agreement, and we are optimistic that this will strengthen trust going forward,” Prof. Pate said.
However, officials of NANNM declined to comment publicly after the meeting, choosing not to disclose the specifics of the resolutions or timelines for implementation of their demands.
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The strike, which began on July 29, had paralysed services in public health institutions across Nigeria. It followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued by NANNM on July 14, in protest against what it described as the government’s consistent failure to honour prior commitments on welfare, hazard allowances, and workplace conditions.
The industrial action was originally scheduled to last until August 5, 2025, but its early suspension followed mounting public pressure and the health ministry’s intervention.
Health experts had warned that the strike could worsen Nigeria’s fragile healthcare delivery system, which is already battling chronic understaffing and infrastructure decay.
The government had earlier withdrawn a controversial circular affecting nurses’ salaries, one of the issues that sparked the strike, as a prelude to appeasing the union.
