Nurses across Nigeria’s public hospitals began a seven-day warning strike on Wednesday after talks with the government failed, demanding higher pay, better working conditions, and urgent recruitment to fill staffing gaps.
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) said that unless its demands are met within a week, it will escalate to an indefinite strike – the first in more than 20 years.
“We hope that before the seventh day, we’ll have attention and a positive response from the federal government,” said Christianah Adeboboye, head of the union’s Lagos chapter.
A last-minute meeting on Tuesday between union representatives and a delegation led by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi ended without agreement. The union blamed the absence of Health Minister Ali Pate for the deadlock.
The strike highlights mounting tensions in Nigeria’s health sector, already under pressure from staff shortages. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, more than 42,000 nurses have emigrated over the past three years in search of better pay abroad.
Hospitals are bracing for disruptions as the strike continues.