Nurses and midwives at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have joined the seven-day nationwide warning strike declared by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) over unmet demands by the Federal Government.
The UCH chapter of the association commenced the industrial action on Wednesday after holding a congress meeting, urging patients to bear with them during the period of the strike.
Speaking with The Cabal, the UCH NANNM Chairperson, Mrs. Olufunmilola Faminu, explained that the decision followed a directive from the NANNM national headquarters in response to the government’s continued inaction on critical issues affecting nurses across the country.
Faminu outlined the major demands, which include:
Employment of more nursing personnel
Provision of adequate hospital facilities
Creation of a directorate for nurses at the Federal Ministry of Health
Fair representation of nurses at the ministry
Centralisation of internship training
Review of allowances for nurses and midwives
“Sadly, we are concerned about our patients. We don’t intend to leave them stranded without our care,” Faminu said.
“But we have no choice. This is a just cause. Nurses provide compassionate, competent care across all settings, but we are forced into this action.”
She added that other healthcare professionals remain on duty to manage emergencies during the strike, which officially began at midnight on July 29 and is scheduled to end on August 5.
However, Faminu warned that if the government fails to meet their demands by the end of the warning strike, the association will issue a 21-day ultimatum before proceeding to an indefinite strike.
