While Nigerian Doctors’ Strike Is Unresolved, Nurses In Lagos May Down Tools Today

While the seven-month old strike by members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is yet to be resolved, nurses and midwives in Nigeria’s commercial capital city, Lagos, may on Tuesday commence indefinite strike to press home their demands for improved welfare conditions, and particularly the unpaid ‘uniform allowance.’

But the state government has foreclosed the idea of industrial action by the nurses, describing the cause of disagreement as a minor issue.

The nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos State chapter, on 30 August, gave a 21-day ultimatum to the government, threatening to down tools should it fail to pay the allowances or put in place concrete steps to commence the processes.

The letter, which conveyed the ultimatum and addressed to the office of the state’s head of service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and referenced; NANNM/LS/HOS/01/VOL.1/11, was titled; “Urgent Reminder and Ultimatum on the Central Payment of Nurses’ Uniform Allowance.”

The union accused the government of sectarianism, saying while those working under the state’s health service commission are unpaid, their counterparts at the primary health care board and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) have either received their payment or are in the process of receiving it.

-Premium Times