BREAKING: Ondo nurses begin indefinite strike over welfare conditions

Nurses in Ondo State, under the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), have commenced an indefinite strike, citing poor welfare conditions and the government’s failure to fulfill its commitments.

Announcing the industrial action in Akure on Thursday, NANNM Chairman Felix Orobode stated that the decision was reached after an emergency council meeting on January 30, 2025. The strike took effect from 12:00 a.m Friday, following unsuccessful negotiations with the state government.

Orobode accused the government of failing to honor its agreements with nurses, particularly regarding salary adjustments. He alleged that another health profession was given preferential treatment when salaries were reviewed in July 2024, leaving nurses shortchanged.

“Following the approval of the N73,000 minimum wage by His Excellency, the adjustment made on our salary structure (CONHESS) was marred with irregularities, which our association and other unions under the salary structure immediately rejected. This necessitated another round of negotiations, where a consensus was reached to implement a new salary table from January 2025,” he stated.

Despite the agreement to implement the revised salary from January 2025, Orobode expressed disappointment that the January salary was still paid based on the old salary structure, violating the earlier consensus reached with the government.

The association emphasized that nurses and midwives in Ondo State have continued to work under challenging conditions, despite the mass exodus of healthcare workers from the state.

“Nurses and midwives play multiple roles, often filling in for doctors, pharmacists, health information officers, and even security personnel in various general hospitals and health centres. Despite our sacrifices, our welfare concerns are treated with levity,” Orobode lamented.

He urged the state government to urgently address the welfare issues affecting nurses, warning that the ongoing brain drain remains a serious threat to healthcare delivery in Ondo State.

With the strike in full effect, the state health sector faces significant disruptions, placing pressure on the government to resolve the crisis and prevent further deterioration of medical services.