NANNM Suspends Strike: signs Memorandum of Understanding with the govt.

NANNM Suspends Strike: MOU Guarantees Allowances and Centralized Internship Placements

Abuja, Nigeria – 02:50 PM BST, Saturday, August 02, 2025 – In a landmark development for Nigeria’s nursing community, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has suspended its seven-day warning strike, which began on July 30, 2025, following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that concluded today. The decision, announced at 02:50 PM BST, stems from a robust Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on August 1, 2025, with the Federal Government, addressing the nine core demands that fueled the 2025 nurses’ strike. Fellow Nurses Africa, the trusted independent voice dedicated to educating, informing, and supporting the nursing profession across Africa, brings you this exclusive update on the resolutions that mark a new chapter for nurses’ welfare in Nigeria.

The strike, now halted after four days, was sparked by a 15-day ultimatum expiring on July 29, 2025, over issues like the nurses’ $50 monthly wage—dwarfed by the $6,000 earned abroad—and unsafe working conditions. The MOU, negotiated with the Honourable Ministers of Health & Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, and Labour & Employment, delivers concrete resolutions:

• Gazetting of the 2016 Nurses Scheme of Service: The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW) has committed to gazetting the long-awaited 2016 Nurses Scheme of Service, approved in Minna, Niger State. The process, initiated with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, will be finalized within four weeks (by September 5, 2025), overseen by the Director of Nursing and NANNM’s Secretary General.

• Professional Allowances Boost: Nurses will benefit from a suite of new allowances, including a 30% shift duty allowance, 20% specialist allowance annually, a ₦300,000 uniform allowance per year, 4% call duty allowance, 35% teaching allowance, and payments for excess workload and burnout. A retention allowance to combat brain drain is also included. The FMOH&SW will collaborate with health unions, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and other ministries to finalize these within two weeks (by August 15, 2025).

• Centralized Internship Placements: The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) will immediately implement centralized internship placements for graduate nurses, ensuring fair distribution across states and avoiding overcrowding in Abuja and Lagos, a win for young nurses entering the field.

• Implementation of the 2012 NIC Judgement and Department of Nursing: The 2012 National Industrial Court judgement will be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, with the creation of a Department of Nursing to follow, though timelines remain pending.

• Fair Board Representation: The Minister of Health has assured fair representation of nurses on tertiary health institution boards, supported by a formal letter, enhancing their influence in healthcare governance.

• Nursing Consultancy and Council Constitution: Roles for nursing consultancy will be defined through internal Ministry discussions, while the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s governing board will be constituted soon, though specific dates are yet to be set.

• Employment and Equipment: With 2024’s recruitment of over 14,000 workers (60% nurses) completed, waivers for 2025 employment are underway, addressing staffing and equipment shortages.

• Non-Victimization: No nurse, including interns and locums, will face repercussions for strike participation, ensuring a safe return to work.

NANNM’s NEC has directed state councils to resume duties immediately, with national leadership tasked to monitor MOU compliance. Sources within NANNM, speaking to Fellow Nurses Africa, called it a “tough but necessary decision,” with detailed MOU insights to follow. As #NANNMStrike2025 and #SupportNigerianNurses trend on X, Fellow Nurses Africa remains committed to delivering updates, celebrating this step toward nurses’ welfare and Nigeria’s healthcare reform in 2025.

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