Edo nurses back national strike, give FG ultimatum
By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY
THE Edo State chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM), has backed the decision of the national leadership of the association to embark on a nationwide strike action if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands which includes poor remuneration, relegation and neglect of the nursing profession.
In an enlarged meeting attended by the Edo State Executives and unit heads of the association, the nurses said their demands are the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health, an Upward review of peculiar professional allowances for Nurses and Midwives and the Inclusion of Nurses in the Health Policy-making body.
Others are Gazetting of Nurses’ Schemes of service as approved by its National Executive Community (NEC) in 2016, Minna, Niger state, Implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment of 27th January 2012, payment of owed salaries to the staff of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria since January 2024 till date.
The Edo NANNM Chairman, Francis Oliseh Esq. said at a press conference in Benin City that the nurses in Nigeria are undervalued and neglected compared to what is applicable in other countries.
The nurses and midwives whose ultimatum expires on the 16th of September, 2024, said their adherence to the ethics of the profession and the rule of law has been taken for granted and has therefore been pushed to the wall.
He also demanded the immediate reopening of the Verification portal for Nurses and Midwives without any further delay.
Oliseh Esq. explained that the reopening of the portal is one of the 11-point demands from the federal government and it will enable nurses “who travel abroad and those who are planning to travel to renew their registrations.”
The NANNM chairman however appreciated the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki for implementing the 25 percent upward review of the 2023 Consolidated Health Salary Structure for nurses in the state, according to him, “Governor Obaseki is the only governor in Nigeria that has implemented it except the FCT.”
The Vice Chairman of the association, Otaigbe Queen-Stella appealed to the Federal government to provide medical facilities and employ more nurses to fill the gap in health institutions in the country.
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