Nurses may begin nationwide strike on Feb. 23

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, an affiliate of the Nigeria Nurses Congress, on Wednesday issued a one-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to comply with the judgement of the National Industrial Court or face a nationwide strike on February 23.

The association, however, exempted nurses and midwives in Borno State from the industrial action “to prevent further straining the already bad security and social welfare situation in that state.”

The NANNW considered the situation in Borno State humane, to commiserate with the people as a result of the destruction of innocent lives by the members of Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The National President of NANNW, Mr. Abdrafiu Adeniji, who issued the threat at a press briefing in Abuja, said the association’s patience “has been taken for granted by the government.”

He said, “An ultimatum of seven days has been given to the Federal Ministry of Health to comply with the final judgement of the National Industrial Court after an appeal filed on April 25, 2012, by the Ministry of Health, which was dismissed in January 2014 by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The continuous refusal by the FMoH to comply in full, the implementation of the Industrial Arbitration Panel awards and subsequent NIC judgements for the past 34 years can no longer be tolerated by nurses and midwives.

“Since nurses have maintained patience for 34 years from May 1981, when the IAP verdict was given, coupled with the fact that subsequent NIC judgements and even appeal by the ministry were all in the favour of NANNW, the government has failed to implement the judgements.”