The strike action by Nigerian nurses and midwives has been officially called off, according to the Minister of Health, Ali Pate.
Speaking to reporters after a private meeting on Friday, Pate explained that the decision came after both sides reached an agreement. The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), however, declined to comment publicly after the talks ended.
The nurses and midwives had gone on a warning strike on 29 July, 2025, accusing the government of ignoring their 15-day ultimatum issued earlier in July. The strike, which affected government hospitals across the country, was originally set to continue until 5 August.
At the heart of their protest were long-standing concerns about poor working conditions and a lack of government support. The nurses demanded better pay, fairer allowances, and an overall improvement in their working environment.
NANNM’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, previously criticised the government for failing to hold meaningful discussions during the period given for dialogue.
“As far as we’re concerned, no one from the government reached out to us. That’s why we decided the strike must continue. Even if they call now, it won’t change anything. They had enough time,” Rilwan had said at the time.
The union’s specific demands included a review of shift and uniform allowances, a separate salary structure for nurses, higher core duty allowances, more recruitment of nurses, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan made it clear that the strike was not just a decision from union leaders—it reflected deep frustration among nurses across the country, many of whom feel neglected and undervalued.
With the strike now called off, many Nigerians will be hoping that the agreement leads to real and lasting improvements—not just promises.
