The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike.

This was confirmed in a circular signed by Haruna Mamman, the association’s national president, and T.A. Shettima, the general secretary.

The decision followed an emergency virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday to review the outcome of negotiations with the federal government on Friday and determine next steps in the ongoing industrial action.

The warning strike, which commenced on 29 July, was initially scheduled to run for seven days until 5 August. The nurses are protesting long-standing issues of neglect, poor remuneration, lack of professional recognition, and worsening working conditions.

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The union argued that despite several court rulings and policy declarations, successive administrations have failed to implement reforms that would enhance the welfare of nurses and the quality of healthcare delivery.

Among their core demands is the formal gazetting of the Nurses’ Scheme of Service, approved by the National Council on Establishment (NCE) as far back as 2016. The nurses are also calling for the enforcement of a National Industrial Court judgment from January 2012, which they say upholds key aspects of their professional entitlements.

Additional demands include an upward review of professional allowances, the recruitment of more nursing personnel, the upgrading of health facilities, and the establishment of a dedicated Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health.

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NANNM is also seeking equitable representation of nurses on health policy-making bodies, inclusion in the leadership structure of federal health institutions, and centralised internship placements for graduate nurses.

The union is also pushing for the formal recognition of consultancy status for qualified nurses and midwives.