The Kwara State Council of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially joined the nationwide warning strike action called by the association's national body. The one-week industrial action comes in response to the federal government's continued failure to address longstanding demands affecting the nursing profession in Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Markus Lucas, the Kwara State Secretary of the association, nurses in Kwara are standing in solidarity with their colleagues across the country to press for the fulfillment of several critical demands.
Key Demands Driving the Strike
The demands include the implementation of the National Industrial Arbitration Court judgment of January 27, 2012, upward review of professional allowances for nurses and midwives, adequate employment of nursing personnel, and provision of essential health facility equipment.
Other demands focus on the establishment of a department of nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health, inclusion of nurses in leadership and policy-making bodies of the health sector, and fair representation of nurses in federal health institutions across the country.
The association emphasized that these demands aim to improve healthcare delivery quality, enhance professional development, and ensure better welfare for Nigerian nurses.
Kwara State's Specific Challenges
While acknowledging Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's recent approval of a 25 percent salary increase for nurses in the state, the association noted that this addresses just one of seven key demands previously submitted to the state government.
The unresolved issues specific to Kwara State include the review of entry points for graduate nurses to reflect their level of training and qualifications, career progression pathways for nurses with single qualifications, and teaching allowances.
Additionally, the association is seeking call duty and rural allowances for nurses working in underserved areas, arguing that addressing these demands would significantly improve welfare, motivation, and working conditions for nurses in the state.
The strike action highlights the growing concerns within Nigeria's healthcare sector, particularly regarding the treatment and working conditions of nursing professionals who form a critical component of the healthcare delivery system.
Stay updated on this developing story and other important health sector news by following BenriNews on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
