Breaking: Nurses Announce Date To Resolve Nationwide Strike Standoff

This follows the government’s premature announcement on Friday, claiming that the nationwide strike by nurses had been called off—a statement quickly refuted by the union.

The strike, which began on Wednesday, is in protest over several unresolved issues, including the demand for a revised shift allowance, increased uniform allowance, a distinct salary structure for nurses, enhanced core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nursing staff, and the creation of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Friday, NANNM-FHI’s National Public Relations Officer, Omomo Tibiebi, emphasized that the strike remains in full force, despite the meeting earlier that day with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate.

“The strike has not been suspended,” Tibiebi said. “Yes, we had a meeting with the minister, but it was Prof. Pate who went to the press and wrongly stated that the strike had been called off. He doesn’t have the authority to do so—he didn’t declare the strike, and he can’t end it.”

He confirmed that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) would convene today (Saturday) to assess the Federal Government’s proposals and determine the union’s next steps.

“Only after the NEC meeting will we decide whether the government’s promises are satisfactory enough for us to consider suspending the strike,” he added.