BREAKING: Nigerian Nurses Call Off Strike After Government Reaches Crucial Deal

According to IReporter Online, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, has confirmed that the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially suspended its nationwide strike. The announcement came shortly after a closed-door meeting held in Abuja between representatives of the union and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Minister Pate disclosed that both parties reached significant agreements addressing several long-standing grievances, leading to the union’s decision to discontinue the industrial action. While the leadership of NANNM refrained from issuing a public statement immediately after the meeting, it was confirmed that the deliberations focused on policy implementation, staffing concerns, and institutional reforms.

The strike, which began on July 29, 2025, was initiated over the federal government’s delay in responding to key demands raised by the nursing and midwifery workforce. Prior to the resolution, state-level representatives had indicated that the strike would persist until concrete commitments were made.

Among the issues raised were the gazetting of the revised nursing scheme of service—initially approved in 2016—the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, and the centralization of internship programs for nursing graduates. Additional demands included a review of provisional allowances, the inclusion of nurses on the governing boards of health institutions, and urgent recruitment measures to tackle acute manpower shortages in the sector.

The minister’s announcement marks a significant breakthrough in negotiations between the federal government and healthcare professionals, potentially paving the way for broader reforms within the nation’s healthcare delivery system.