The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has said that most of the reasons behind their ongoing strike have nothing to do with money.
Mrs. Josephine Bassey, who chairs the Cross River State chapter of the union, said this while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on the first day of their seven-day warning strike, which began on Wednesday, July 30.
“Ninety per cent of our demands do not have financial implications. They are mainly about administration and policies, not money,” Bassey said.
She explained that the nurses want the government to implement already-approved policies and court judgments.
“Our demands include the gazetting of the nursing scheme of service approved since 2016 and the creation of a Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health. Another key demand is the centralisation of internship for nursing graduates,” she stated.
Bassey also said the nurses want a review of allowances and more nurses to be employed to solve the problem of staff shortage.
She added that nurses also want to be included in the boards of health institutions at both state and federal levels.
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Bassey confirmed that the strike had full support from members across Cross River State.
“We started monitoring from 7:30 a.m., and compliance was 100 per cent in all health facilities,” Bassey said.
She warned that any nurse who disobeys the strike order will be removed from their position and punished at the national level.
“Nurses make up about 60 to 65 per cent of the healthcare workforce. If the government truly appreciates our role in healthcare, it should listen to us,” Bassey said.
She admitted that the strike would affect patients but called on the public to support the nurses.
“We feel the pain of the patients, but we also urge them to speak up for us. Let them cry out to the government and well-meaning Nigerians on our behalf,” she added.
Bassey said the nurses are ready to return to work immediately if their demands are met.