Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives in Nigeria began a nationwide strike at midnight on Tuesday, crippling healthcare delivery across public hospitals. The seven-day industrial action comes after the government failed to respond to a 15-day ultimatum issued by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM). The strike has brought nursing services to a halt in all federal medical centres, including teaching and specialist hospitals, national eye centres, and many state-run general and primary healthcare facilities. Private hospitals, however, remain operational. NANNM, which represents over 25,000 nurses nationwide, says the strike is in response to inadequate remuneration, poor working conditions, and a lack of recognition within the federal health system. The group expressed disappointment over a recent salary review that failed to address key concerns, such as inadequate allowances for night shifts, on-call duties, and weekends.
“We cannot continue to provide critical care under such unsafe and underpaid conditions,” said NANNM President Michael Nnachi in a statement. “Nurses are overworked, under-protected, and increasingly leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.” The association is also demanding the creation of a dedicated Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as improved hospital infrastructure and safety protocols to address rising incidents of workplace violence and burnout.
Nigeria is already grappling with a severe shortage of healthcare workers, with a growing number of nurses and doctors emigrating to the UK, Canada, and Saudi Arabia in search of better pay and conditions. The current strike further exposes the fragility of the country’s health system, especially as it deals with frequent disease outbreaks and underfunded public services. The federal government has yet to release an official response to the strike, but health experts warn that a prolonged walkout could have severe consequences for patients across the country.
