The members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives- Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) have commenced a 7 days warning strike, following an earlier 15 days ultimatum giving to the government to allow a dialogue for their demands.
The strike, which is set to begin on Wednesday will go on for 7 days, with the national president of the association, Morakinyo Rilwan vowing that no form of negotiation with the government will be allowed till the warning strike is over as the government had enough time within the earlier 15 days to call for dialogue, but did not.
Some of the demands of the nurses are the upward review of shift allowance, uniform allowance adjustment, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.
Earlier, on July 14, the union called to the government to intervene in their demands, in order to avert the looking strike action, but the union insists that there has been no response from the government or even the federal ministry of health.
Speaking to THE PUNCH, the union president said that members were prepared to face any consequences, including “no work, no pay.”
“This strike is not initiated by the leadership of the union; it was initiated by the members, and they said this is what they want.
“So, we don’t have any option but to allow them to exercise their rights, because they are tired”.
The union called on all chapters of the body to join the strike action and said that if they do not receive any response from the government after the 7 days warning strike, they will proceed to a 21 days warning strike as stipulated in labor laws.
