Nurses across Nigeria’s public hospitals began a seven-day warning strike on Wednesday, calling for better wages, improved working conditions, and urgent recruitment of new healthcare workers. The strike, announced by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), comes after the federal government failed to respond to their demands within a two-week ultimatum.
The union has warned that failure to reach a resolution within the next week will trigger an open-ended nationwide strike, the first of its kind in more than two decades.
“We hope to get the government’s attention and a positive response before the seven days elapse,” said Christiana Adeboye, NANNM chairperson in Lagos.
Healthcare services in government hospitals across Nigeria are bracing for disruptions as nurses walk off the job, leaving already overstretched facilities further understaffed. Hospitals fear the situation could escalate, jeopardizing the care of thousands of patients.
A critical meeting held Tuesday between a government delegation — led by Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi — and union representatives ended in deadlock. Tensions rose further due to the absence of Health Minister Ali Pate, which union officials described as a “glaring failure of leadership.”
“It was a crucial meeting about the future of Nigeria’s healthcare, and yet the Health Minister didn’t show up. That says everything,” said Toba Odumosu, NANNM Secretary-General in Lagos.
Mass Exodus of Nurses Deepens Health Crisis
The nurses’ strike throws a harsh spotlight on Nigeria’s healthcare sector, which has been grappling with chronic underfunding, low salaries, and a massive brain drain. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, over 42,000 Nigerian nurses have left the country in the past three years, lured by better pay and working conditions abroad.
Hospitals across major states such as Lagos, Abuja, and Kano are already experiencing critical staff shortages, leading to longer patient wait times, overworked personnel, and a rise in preventable deaths in some facilities.
NANNM is demanding immediate action to address the shortage of nurses, revise salary scales in line with current economic realities, and improve safety and working conditions for healthcare workers.
“We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for dignity and fairness. The lives of patients and healthcare workers are both at risk,” said Adeboye.
A System Under Strain
Nigeria’s public health system is widely considered overstretched and under-resourced. Recent economic challenges, currency instability, and inflation have exacerbated the situation, making it harder for healthcare workers to survive on stagnant wages.
Striking nurses report working under intense pressure, with some managing over 30 patients per shift. Many have been forced to take on extra jobs or borrow money just to survive.
The strike has drawn support from various civil society groups, including the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), which has also raised concerns about the exodus of medical professionals.
“Unless this crisis is addressed comprehensively, Nigeria risks a collapse of its public healthcare system,” warned a JOHESU spokesperson.
Government Urged to Act Swiftly
With the warning strike now in effect, public hospitals are activating emergency response protocols. However, many worry that without government intervention, healthcare facilities will not withstand a prolonged walkout.
The Federal Ministry of Health has yet to issue a formal statement, while the Ministry of Labour said negotiations are ongoing.
For now, Nigerians face growing uncertainty, and patients — especially in rural areas — are left in limbo, fearing what comes next if a full-scale strike is declared next week.
