NANNM in Closed-Door NEC Meeting with Potential Strike Suspension

NANNM in Closed-Door NEC Meeting with Potential Strike Suspension

Abuja, Nigeria – 09:50 AM BST, Saturday, August 02, 2025 –

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) is right in the middle of an exciting—and tense—moment. Right now, their emergency virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting is ongoing, kicked off at 9:00 AM today via Zoom. This closed-door chat could be a game-changer for the ongoing seven-day warning strike, which started on July 30, 2025, and is now on day four. Fellow Nurses Africa is keeping a close eye on things, and we’re here to break it all down for you!

What’s Happening Right Now?

This strike kicked off after a 15-day ultimatum ended on July 29, 2025, because nurses are fed up with tough issues like earning just $50 a month (while nurses abroad make $6,000!), unpaid allowances, and working with broken equipment. They’ve been pushing for big changes: making the 2016 Nurses Scheme of Service official to help their careers, enforcing a 2012 court ruling for fair treatment, bumping up their tiny ₦250-₦2,000 allowance raise, and even setting up a new Department of Nursing in the Health Ministry.

Yesterday, on August 1, NANNM leaders met with top officials, including Health Minister Prof Ali Pate and the Labour Minister, and it looks like they might have found some solutions. But here’s the catch—NANNM’s Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, has made it clear that only the union can end the strike, not the Minister, even after Prof Pate claimed it was suspended on Friday.

A Glimmer of Hope?

Speaking off the record to a Fellow Nurses Africa correspondent, a key NANNM official shared some good news: “There’s a high chance we’ll call off the strike today. The meeting with the Health Minister went well, and the government seems ready to meet our demands.” That’s exciting! It could mean a new agreement, maybe even a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is on the table. But not everyone’s on board. Some nurses are hopeful, while others are digging in their heels, saying the strike shouldn’t stop until every demand is met and a solid MOU is signed. It’s a split that shows how much this means to them!

What’s Next?

As we speak, the NEC meeting is ongoing, and nurses across Nigeria are waiting with bated breath. Will they decide to end the strike today, or will it keep going until August 6, 2025? On X, #NANNMStrike2025 and #SupportNigerianNurses are buzzing with support and opinions. Fellow Nurses Africa promises to keep you updated as things unfold, so you won’t miss a beat. This could be a turning point for nurses’ pay, safety, and respect in Nigeria’s healthcare scene.

So, stay tuned! Whether it’s good news or a call to keep fighting, we’ll bring it straight to you. What do you think—should they call it off or hold firm? Drop your thoughts below!

Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support the nursing profession