Health

Nationwide Hospital Shutdown Looms as Nurses Begin 7-Day Warning Strike

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 30th, 2025.

Nationwide Hospital Shutdown Looms as Nurses Begin 7-Day Warning Strike

The health sector in Nigeria faces another serious challenge as nurses in federal health institutions launch a 7-day nationwide warning strike starting at midnight on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. This strike follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum given to the government by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

Reports indicate that during this strike, there will be a complete halt of nursing services in all federal health facilities, including Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres, with no skeletal services provided.

The directive to begin the strike was communicated through an official circular sent to the chairpersons and secretaries of all federal health institutions. The order came after an emergency meeting of the NANNM National Executive Council held on July 10, 2025, at the National Hospital in Abuja.

In the circular signed by NANNM National Secretary, Comrade Enya Agatha Osinachi, the association stated:

“Following the decision of the National Executive Council at the emergency meeting and subsequent directive from the national headquarters, all members are to commence a 7-day warning strike starting from 12:00 midnight on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. This strike is a result of the Federal Government’s failure to address our concerns despite the 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14, 2025. This is a total strike; no skeletal nursing services will be provided in any federal health institution nationwide. We expect full compliance from all members.”

Earlier in July, NANNM National Chairman, Comrade Morakinyo Rilwan, expressed disappointment with the recent review of nurses’ allowances, describing them as inadequate and failing to meet the key welfare needs of nurses. The government was given a deadline to improve the conditions, but no satisfactory progress was made.

The association criticized the insufficient compensation for night and weekend shifts, as well as the poor call duty allowances, noting that nurses often sacrifice personal time to respond to emergencies.

Key demands from the NANNM include the establishment of a dedicated nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health, increased shift duty allowances, special allowances for specialist nurses, better working conditions, and hospitals equipped with modern facilities to reduce the need for medical tourism abroad.

Given that nurses provide the bulk of hospital care, the strike threatens to severely disrupt emergency services, surgeries, maternal health care, and chronic disease management. There are concerns that delays caused by the strike could lead to preventable deaths, especially in critical care areas such as ICUs and maternity wards.

Nigeria is already grappling with a severe shortage of nurses, with more than 75,000 nurses and midwives leaving the country since 2019. A prolonged strike could worsen the fragile state of public healthcare delivery.

Nurses and midwives make up about 60 percent of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, with federal hospitals—including Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres—being their primary employers.