90% Of Our Demands Have No Financial Implications – Nigerian Nurses Association

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has revealed that the majority of its demands from the Federal Government carry no financial burden.

This was disclosed by Mrs. Josephine Bassey, Chairperson of the Cross River State chapter of the association, amid the ongoing seven-day warning strike which commenced on Wednesday, July 30.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, Bassey explained that most of the issues raised are administrative, involving the enforcement of policy documents, implementation of court rulings, and the gazetting of previously approved frameworks.

“Our demands include the gazetting of the Nursing Scheme of Service approved since 2016 and the creation of a dedicated Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health,” she said.

Bassey also emphasized the need to centralize internship placements for nursing graduates, review outdated provisional allowances for nurses and midwives, and ensure that nurses are appointed to the boards of federal and state health institutions.

In addition, she stressed the urgent need to address the critical shortage of nursing staff across the country, noting that the current workforce is overstretched.

“Compliance with the strike has been total. We began monitoring health facilities as early as 7:30 a.m. on the first day, and participation has been 100 per cent,” Bassey said.

She warned that any nurse found defying the strike order would face disciplinary action from the national leadership of the association.

“Nurses constitute about 60 to 65 per cent of the nation’s healthcare workforce,” she stated. “If the government genuinely values the essential role we play in healthcare delivery, it should waste no time in addressing our demands.”

While acknowledging the inconvenience caused to patients, Bassey appealed to the public for understanding and support.

“We feel the pain of patients during this period, but we urge them to raise their voices alongside ours and appeal to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene,” she added.

Bassey assured that nurses would return to work immediately once their demands are addressed.