The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Edo State has drummed support for the decision of its national leadership to commence a nationwide strike.
News About Nigeria reports that the decision is coming on the heels of the federal government’s failure to address its demands.
The demands of the association include poor remuneration, relegation, and neglect of the nursing profession; the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health; an upward review of peculiar professional allowances for nurses and midwives; and the inclusion of nurses in the health policy-making body.
Gazetting of Nurses’ Schemes of Service, approved by NEC in 2016, to Implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement of January 27, 2012, to Payment of outstanding salaries to Nursing and Midwifery Council staff from January 2024 to present.
Speaking at the press conference in Benin City, Francis Oliseh, the NANNM chairman in Edo, said that nurses in Nigeria are undervalued and neglected compared to what is applicable in other countries.
The nurses and midwives, whose deadline is September 16, 2024, feel their professionalism and law-abiding nature have been exploited, leaving them with no choice but to take a stand.
He also demanded the immediate reopening of the Verification Portal for Nurses and Midwives without any further delay.
Oliseh stated that the reopening of the portal is one of the 11-point demands from the federal government and it will enable nurses “who travel abroad and those who are planning to travel to renew their registrations.”
However, the NANNM chairman commended Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for being the sole governor, aside from the FCT, to implement the 25% upward review of the 2023 Consolidated Health Salary Structure for nurses.
