The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has launched a seven-day nationwide strike beginning July 29, 2025, targeting federal hospitals, specialist centers, and research institutions across Nigeria. The move comes after a failed 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to address critical service demands.
What Happens When Nurses Walk Out
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All non-critical patient care has been suspended—meaning many hospitals, including those in Abuja, have discharged patients en masse. Only critical cases remain under skeletal care provided by emergency nurses and residual staff.
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This follows a precedent set earlier at LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital), where doctors’ strikes led to widespread patient releases and shuttered wards.
Why Nurses Say Enough Is Enough
NANNM leaders—including National Secretary Enya Osinachi and President Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan—point to these unresolved grievances:
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Poor working conditions and inadequate staffing
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Unpaid hazard and call duty allowances
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Security risks at duty posts
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Lack of response to a controversial circular from the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission issued June 27
Nurses, who deliver 60–70% of healthcare services, warn the system may collapse without urgent reforms.
Why It Matters
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Federal hospitals at a standstill: Abuja and other centres risk near-total shutdown if the strike is not resolved swiftly.
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Patients are collateral damage: Particularly vulnerable individuals, children, the elderly, chronically ill—face disruptions, delays, and potential danger without proper care.
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Systemic problems exposed: This strike is emblematic of deeper labor and funding issues built up over years within Nigeria’s public health sector.
Final Takeaway
As nurses picket across the country, hospitals across Abuja and beyond have become eerily empty. As the advocacy turns urgent, NANNM insists: no dialogue equals no care. Until their welfare demands are met, critical health services will remain crippled.
