The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) says it has not suspended its ongoing nationwide warning strike, disputing earlier announcement by the Federal government.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate,  on Friday, announced that the union has called off the strike after a closed-door meeting with the leaders.

He said the government and union leaders had reached “key agreements” that addressed some of the nurses’ longstanding demands. However, he did not provide full details of the agreement.

But contrary to the minister’s  claim, the NANNM chairman, Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, said the strike is still on, as the union is yet to take a decision on the outcome of the meeting with government.

“The minister announced that the union have called off strike,  is the minister a nurse? We had a meeting, the leadership has not reviewed the outcome of the meeting to take a decision, so the strike continues,” he said.

The union has scheduled a general congress for Saturday, where members are expected to deliberate on the outcome of the discussions and determine the next course of action.

The warning strike, which began on July 29, was originally scheduled to run until 5 August.  At the core of the nurses’ grievances are years of neglect, poor remuneration, lack of professional recognition, and deteriorating working conditions.

They argue that despite multiple court rulings and policy pronouncements, successive governments have failed to implement reforms that would improve the welfare of nurses and the quality of healthcare delivery.

Among the union’s key demands is the gazetting of the Nurses’ Scheme of Service, which was approved by the National Council on Establishment (NCE) as far back as 2016. The nurses also want the federal government to implement a National Industrial Court judgment from January 2012, which they say affirms key aspects of their professional entitlements.

Other demands include an upward review of professional allowances, recruitment of more nursing personnel, better-equipped health facilities, and the creation of a dedicated Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health.

NANNM is also seeking fairer representation of nurses on health policy-making bodies, inclusion in the leadership structure of federal health institutions, and the centralisation of internship placements for graduate nurses.

The association is additionally pushing for the recognition of consultancy status for qualified nurses and midwives.