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  • Nurses, midwives give FG 15-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide strike

    Nurses, midwives give FG 15-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, threatening a nationwide seven-day warning strike if their longstanding demands are not addressed.

    The resolution followed an emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), held virtually on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from the NANNM National Secretariat in Abuja.

    The meeting was convened in response to a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) concerning the review of allowances for health workers.

    In a communique jointly signed by National President Haruna Mamman and General Secretary Dr. T.A. Shettima, the association announced that the ultimatum would take effect from Monday, July 14.

    NANNM described the circular as disappointing, inadequate, and discriminatory, arguing that it failed to reflect the vital roles and sacrifices made by nurses and midwives in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

    Following the communique issued after the meeting, Mamman said the NEC condemned the circular and expressed deep concern that several of the association’s demands, previously presented to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, have yet to be addressed. 

    He listed unresolved issues, including the gazetting of the nurses’ scheme of service approved by the National Council on Establishments in 2016, implementation of a 2012 National Industrial Court judgment, an upward review of professional allowances, and the employment of more nursing personnel.

    Other demands, according to the Communique are the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health, inclusion of nurses in key policy-making roles, fair representation on boards of federal health institutions, centralized posting of graduate nurses for internships, and recognition of consultancy roles for nurses and midwives.

    “If the Federal Government fails to provide concrete and satisfactory responses within that period, nurses and midwives across the country will commence a one-week warning strike immediately after the deadline.

    “NANNM called on the government to immediately revisit the controversial circular, engage in constructive dialogue with the association, and implement lasting solutions to the challenges facing the profession,” he said. 

    While reaffirming their commitment to providing quality healthcare, the NEC emphasized that nurses and midwives cannot continue to deliver such services under conditions of poor welfare, injustice, and neglect.

    Read Also: Patients lament as Ondo hospitals scale down services over doctors’ strike 

    The association urged the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Assembly, and the general public to intervene to prevent the looming industrial action, which could further strain Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

    To further clarify the association’s position, Mamman emphasized that the ultimatum issued by the association is entirely independent of the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) reaction to the recent circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on medical officers’ allowances.

    He said: “Nurses make up about 60 to 65 percent of the entire health workforce in Nigerian hospitals. Ideally, there should be a proper department in the Federal Ministry of Health that focuses on nursing. But that doesn’t exist. 

    “What we have is a Director of Nursing Services, but that director doesn’t even head an official department. That’s what we’re fighting for the proper creation and recognition of a Department of Nursing Services.

    “This isn’t a demand that started today. We’ve been on this matter for years. We even took the Federal Government to court in 2020 over it. We stayed in court for two years, and in 2022, we got a favourable judgment from the National Industrial Court. 

    “We’ve submitted letters, sent reminders, engaged in countless dialogues, and yet, nothing concrete has been done. Promises are made, but they’re not kept especially by the Ministry of Health.

    “So when people ask us why we are demanding a Department of Nursing now, the truth is we’ve always demanded it. It’s just that the government keeps ignoring us. And now, we are saying enough is enough.

    “The issue of consultancy also comes in. In every professional field, whether health or non-health, we have consultants. Nursing is no exception. We have nurses who have met all the required criteria to be appointed as consultants. Some are still waiting; some are on the verge of being appointed but the system hasn’t allowed it to take root.

    “The consultancy cadre in nursing hasn’t been operationalized. That is one of our long-standing demands. The government knows this. These demands were presented to the current Minister of Health when he assumed office, almost two years ago. So, they can’t say they’re unaware. We’ve been very clear from the beginning.

    “On the issue of disparity in remuneration, let me be clear, we’re not against the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme or the recent deployment of doctors to St. Lucia. 

    “That’s not the issue. Our problem is the glaring difference in pay. Nigerian doctors going abroad are getting about N₦3m monthly under the scheme, while back home, nurses and midwives are barely recognized or compensated adequately. That kind of disparity is dangerous, it’s one of the reasons we are losing our professionals to other countries.

    “So, if nothing is done after the 15-day notice, we will withdraw our services. We will boycott the health sector. That’s the reality. We’ve exercised patience. We’ve used all peaceful and administrative channels available. But when the government continues to renege on agreements and court judgments, what other options do we have?

    “We are always open to dialogue but dialogue must come with action. We’re not asking for anything new. We are asking for the implementation of existing agreements, court judgments, and structural recognition that is long overdue.”

  • Cross River workers may join nationwide strike, says NLC chairman

    Cross River workers may join nationwide strike, says NLC chairman

    …as public facilities remain shut

    As the two-day warning strike by organized labour enters its second day in Cross River State, indications suggest a high likelihood of the state’s workers joining the imminent nationwide strike starting Sunday, December 1, 2024.

    Speaking in Calabar on Tuesday morning, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Gregory Olayi, told The Nation that labour in the state would not hesitate to join the national action if negotiations with the state government fail to yield results.

    “Our warning strike is to Press for the negotiation and an agreement on the new minimum wage.  Our meeting has been adjourned till Thursday. Sunday is the beginning of the national strike, when the strike come without any resolution, there’s no way we can stay out of it.

    “We’ll mobilize people to join the strike; The Governor according to his representatives is saying he can pay N70,000. But payment of N70,000 doesn’t just come like that, it has its own consequential adjustments, so that’s what we’re talking about,”t he  Labour leader said.

    Our reporter who is monitoring the situation noted that workers across the state have shown full compliance with the ongoing two-day warning strike, which began Monday, in protest against the state government’s failure to implement the proposed N70,000 minimum wage.

    Read Also: Why we suspended strike, by MDCAN president

    However, despite Governor Bassey Otu’s appeal to shelve the strike, workers have downed tools statewide, leaving the new and old secretariat complexes and the state high court locked and guarded by security personnel to prevent vandalism.

    A worker, Sylvester Bassey, criticized the government’s delay in implementing the new minimum wage, accusing the administration of employing stalling tactics. 

    “Most states have either started paying or reached agreements with organized labour, but our government is still dragging its feet,” he lamented.

    The Action Committee of the organized labour stated that the strike was a result of the government’s failure to show greater commitment to negotiating consequential adjustments tied to the minimum wage. 

    They warned that if the wage is not implemented by the December 1, 2024, nationwide strike deadline, the warning strike could escalate into a full-scale industrial action.

    Governor Otu had earlier assured workers of his administration’s commitment to prioritizing their welfare, promising to implement the new wage. However, as of today, the strike continues.

  • JUST IN: Ebonyi workers join nationwide strike

    JUST IN: Ebonyi workers join nationwide strike

    Workers in Ebonyi state on Monday, June 3, joined the nationwide strike declared by organised labour.

    It was observed that workers at the state judiciary complex opposite the old government met a locked gate when they came to work this morning.

    They were unable to gain entrance and after staying for some time discussing the situation and reading the notices placed by their Unions on the gates, they started dispersing back to their homes.

    At the former ministry of finance behind the judiciary, union leaders were seen enforcing the strike by locking the gate.

    At the Unity Square Secretariat, it was observed that workers of the federal agencies at the secretariat did not show up for work even though the gate into the complex was open.

    A bank staff told The Nation that they did not receive any directives from their head offices and so had to open for business.

    “Until we receive directives from our head office, we have to open for business. We can’t do otherwise to avoid disciplinary actions”, he said.

    Some secondary schools visited in the morning had teachers and students in attendance.

    The staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) turned up for work as the hospital was busy when The Nation visited.

    Medical workers were seen attending to patients at the Hospital until someone came into the Male Orthopedic Ward and rang a bell, announcing, “All staff come outside. We have joined the strike.”

    It was at that point that nurses and doctors who were dressing patients’ wounds, hurriedly rounded -off tending to patients.

    “You can see we have joined the strike. So, what we are just doing now is to make sure that we take care of our patients before we are officially asked to join. So, during this period, you people would have to manage yourselves,” a nurse told this reporter

    A patient’s wife (name withheld) who didn’t know his wound would be dressed today was asked to immediately proceed to the Accounts Department to pay the N1,500 dressing fee.

    But when she got to that unit (Accounts), she found that it was under lock and key.

    Consequently, at the time of filing this report, neither a nurse nor a doctor was seen in the Ward many of the workers had left back to their houses.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: National Assembly staff, TCN, banks, others join labour nationwide strike

    Ogugua Egwu, Nigerian Labour Congress, Ebonyi Chapter Chairman said the strike recorded 99 percent compliance.

    He noted that workers of the schools were later dispersed by the Organized Labour strike enforcement team.

    According to him, workers in various offices both state and federal, who reported for work, were also dispersed.

    He noted that the workers did not get the circular on time and hence had to turn up for work but when they saw the enforcement team, they had to leave their offices and return home.

  • FULL LIST: National Assembly staff, TCN, banks, others join labour nationwide strike

    FULL LIST: National Assembly staff, TCN, banks, others join labour nationwide strike

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday, June 3, embarked on a nationwide strike as a protest against the increase in electricity tariff and the failure to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage. 

    The Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday shut down the National Assembly in compliance with the indefinite strike action.

    Also the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Labour, the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on Monday shut the main gate of the FCT Administration popularly known as the Minister’s Gate, stopping the workers from gaining entrance.

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended port operations throughout the country.

    Here’s a full list of every union that has joined the NLC, TUC nationwide strike:

    1. The Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    2. Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria.

    3. The National Union of Electricity Employees.

    4. National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees.

    5. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Workers shut ports as labour begins nationwide strike

    6. National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE)

    7. Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP)

    8. The Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria (PASAN)

    9. Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC)

  • JUST IN: Workers shut ports as labour begins nationwide strike

    JUST IN: Workers shut ports as labour begins nationwide strike

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended  port operations throughout the country following the directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to go on strike.

    A union official disclosed that all other port formations, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, Onne, Calabar, and others, had been closed save for Lagos ports.

    Read Also: AGF faults labour’s planned nationwide strike

    The official stated that they will stay closed until further notice from the national organized labour leadership.

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: JOHESU suspends six weeks strike action

    The striking health workers have suspended the six weeks nationwide strike action.

    The suspension is with effect from Thursday, 31st May, 2018.

    The health workers under the umbrella body of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) had proceeded on a nationwide strike action on midnight of 17th April, 2018 following the Federal Government inability to honour agreements between both parties. While the strike action lasted government hospitals were only operating skeletal services, as only serious emergency cases were attended to.

    However, following the intervention of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the leadership of the unions met Thursday where it was agreed to suspend the strike.

    Read Also:Strike: Court orders FG, JOHESU back to negotiation table

    Announcing the suspension of the strike action at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of the unions held in Abuja, Com. Josiah Biobelemoye, National Chairman, JOHESU said the suspension is to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June 2018.

    Biobelemoye who briefed the media in the present of the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Ayuba Wabbara and other leaders of the unions expressed dismay and the insincerity and unseriousness exhibited at the negotiation table by the Government negotiating team which led to the breakdown of further negotiations and unnecessarily prolonged the strike action.

    He stressed that JOHESU strike actions is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse

    He therefore said that the suspension of the strike action was not as a result of the court injunction but for the sympathy for the people.

    He said, “Due to the intervention of His Excellency, the Senate President, Senator (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki who through his love for the suffering masses displayed high level of statesmanship and sincerity of purpose by putting some machineries in place with a view to permanently resolving the issues in contention. JOHESU having considered his intervention after holding just two meetings with leadership, where serious progress were made.

    “The various gains from the meetings with His Excellency, the Senate President were presented to the NEC of JOHESU, after an exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six (6) weeks old strike be suspended this day Thursday, 31st May, 2018 because of the sympathy the Unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June, 2018.”

    He also added, “We would like to place on record that JOHESU strike actions is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse.”

    On his part, Wabara assured the unions of the support of the NLC, stressing that it has justified case.

    He noted that there were interventions by people in high places.

    He hoped that there will be fairness and justice going forward between the government and unions.

  • Auchi Polytechnic joins ASUP nationwide strike

    Auchi Polytechnic joins ASUP nationwide strike

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic ( ASUP ) in Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo State on Monday paralysed academic activities in the institution by joining in the nationwide strike called by the national leadership of the body.

    Lecture halls and offices were under lock and key when our reporter visited the campus.

    Some graduating students that were on campus for project supervision were seen leaving the campus.

    The leadership of ASUP commenced the nationwide strike to protest the non-implementation of its CONTISS 15 migration arrears, non-commencement of renegotiation of ASUP/Government agreement of 2010 and the delay in the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act, amongst other issues.

    Chairman of the Auchi Polytechnic Branch of ASUP, Mr. Justin Momodu, said his members complied with the national directive to proceed on the strike action

    Momodu said, “The Auchi branch of ASUP have complied with strike because the Federal Government has refused to meet our demands.

    “Government has not demonstrated that it is prepared to honour its agreement with ASUP.

    “We have demonstrated enough patience and if government fails to meet our demands we will remain on total trike,” he said.

    The Chairman Strike Implementation Monitoring Committee, Mr George Okosun said the committee was set up to enforce the strike.

    “This committee is set up to ensure that no lecturers or academic activities is taking place at the polytechnic.

    “Our aim to shut down lecture halls and office are closed down for any academic activities,” he said.

    Okosun said that the committee would continue to go round the institution to ensure lecturers complied with the strike directive.

  • TANKER DRIVERS BEGIN NATIONWIDE STRIKE TOMORROW

    TANKER DRIVERS BEGIN NATIONWIDE STRIKE TOMORROW

    The Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), an arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has vowed to commence a nationwide strike tomorrow.
    NUPENG’s President, Igwe Achese, announced this in a communiqué at the weekend in Lagos at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
    He said the strike would draw attention of the federal government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers such as bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and alleged excesses of some security agencies.
    “To avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, the CWC-in-Session calls on the federal government to urgently intervene and apprehend the unfortunate situation to enable NARTO meet its obligations to tanker drivers,” the communiqué said.
    The tanker drivers called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to tackle corruption plaguing the oil sector.
    They also demanded commercialisation of the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries.
    The union also vowed to resist any attempt to increase the pump price of petrol.

  • Nurses call on doctors to shelve planned strike

    Nurses under the aegis of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA) on Monday appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to shelve its planned nationwide strike.

    The association, in a statement, said the oath of allegiance “to God and humanity by health workers was sacrosanct and that no reason was good enough for anyone to breach it in the name of strike’’.

    In a statement issued in Abakaliki by UGONSA’s National Secretary, Mr Goodluck Nshi, the association decried incessant strikes in the health sector.

    It pointed out that innocent Nigerians were unnecessarily being punished each time care delivery was disrupted by industrial action.

    ”It is, to say the least, inhumanity, for anybody to contemplate visiting more hardship on innocent Nigerians that have been significantly crouched by the economic downturn in the country, by grounding healthcare services.

    ”When the elite have headache, they travel outside the country to get treatment.

    “It is the ordinary Nigerians, who do not have the wherewithal to go abroad for treatment that are unnecessarily punished each time the health sector is grounded by strike.

    ”We appeal passionately to NARD to have a rethink of its position.

    “Strike breaches our oath of allegiance and should in no way be an option at all in the health system that is very critical to the lives and general well-being of the populace.

    “As we cannot re-create or recover any life lost to strike, we should instead, be all preoccupied with how to help lift the country out of its present economic predicament.

    “At a trying period like this, patriotic compatriots think of what they can do to help the country and not how to worsen an already bad situation.

    “Embarking on strike would only add to the woes of ordinary Nigerians,” the nurses said.

    They commended the “Change Begins with Me” drive of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the campaign was apt, timely and most needed in the health sector.

    ”Ethical values have unfortunately been eroded among our healthcare providers such that at the sound of a “strike gong” they throw away their very essence of living, that is, the patient.

    “They trample upon all ethical values and bastardize the oath of allegiance. Such anomalous behaviour is unacceptable and must be stopped.

    ”The change must begin with our abiding by our sacred oath of allegiance to God and humanity. We must develop alternative ways of handling industrial disputes other than embarking on strikes,” the statement said.

    The association, however, urged the government to always be proactive, equitable and prompt in attending to genuine requests or agitation of groups in the health sector to forestall avoidable scenarios.

    ”Government at different levels should not wait until health workers embark on strike before addressing their issues.

    “They should also lead the “change begins with me” campaign in the health sector, by placing premium on infrastructure upgrade and on the welfare of care providers by handling their genuine demands,’ it said.

  • ASUU threatens nationwide strike over 2009 agreement

    ASUU threatens nationwide strike over 2009 agreement

    The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) Wednesday threatened to shut down the nation’s universities through a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union.

    Zonal Coordinator, Abuja Zone of the union, Dr Theophilus Lagi, stated this at a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Dr. Lagi stated that government had only implemented 30 per cent of the provisions on the NEEDS Assessment budget in 2013.

    The funds, he said, was disbursed indiscriminately to university councils, as a fall out of the six months industrial action it had embarked upon in 2009.

    He therefore called on the federal government to fully implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union in order to prevent the nation’s universities from going on strike.

    Lagi said: “The struggle to implement the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement is not about the union. It is not about the personal benefits of the members only.

    “It is about saving the university system from total collapse.

    ‘The current issues in contention includes funding of universities for revitalization in line with the MOU,FGN entered into with ASUU in 2013, re negotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement which ASUU believes will reposition the entire education sector, facilitation of the registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Management company, NUPEMCO, among others in the list.”

    Dr Lagi who also regretted the failure by government to reply series of letters written to it and not taking any concrete steps towards implementing the core provisions of the agreement, described the present step by the union as designed to appeal and conscientiously inform Nigerians on the state of neglect of lectures by government and to serve as a prelude to full blown strike.

    Earlier, the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) Chairman of the union, Dr Ben Ugheoke, who was also at the briefing, frowned at government’s attitude towards the establishment of the Pension Company despite the fact that the union had fulfilled its side of the bargain including the payment of its counterpart funding.

    Ugheoke stated that the union was ready to go ahead and incorporate the company should the government give the directive.

    He said: “We have not joined other PFAs because of the irregularities in the operation of the scheme. The system lacks integrity. That is why we asked our members to wait for our own company.

    “Initially, ASUU was told to commit N600 million to the registration; from that N600 million, it was increased to N740m but late last year, it was raised to N1 billion and I want to say that ASUU has already paid the N1 billion. It has been with the government since 2013 and yet government is frustrating the registration of the company.”