Nigerian Nurses End Strike—Health Sector Eases Up

After weeks of disrupted services, Nigerian nurses under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have officially called off their nationwide strike. The industrial action, which began in mid-July, had crippled operations in many government hospitals, leaving patients stranded and the healthcare system under strain. The strike was prompted by long-standing grievances, including poor working conditions, inadequate staffing, unpaid allowances, and a controversial verification directive by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which sought to make it harder for nurses to migrate abroad for better opportunities. Nurses saw this as a violation of their rights and a desperate attempt to curb the ongoing brain drain in the health sector. Following multiple meetings with federal health authorities, including the Minister of Health, a resolution was reached that addressed several of the union’s demands. A major breakthrough came when the government agreed to suspend the new verification rule and revisit salary adjustments and welfare packages. Promises were also made to address the unsafe work conditions in public hospitals and tackle the issue of violent assaults on health workers. While the strike may be over, many nurses have warned that it was a “suspension,” not a complete end. The leadership of NANNM says they will closely monitor the government’s implementation of the agreed terms and won’t hesitate to resume protests if promises are not fulfilled. The end of the strike brings a sigh of relief to thousands of patients across Nigeria, many of whom were forced to seek expensive private care or rely on traditional medicine during the industrial action. As hospitals gradually return to normalcy, there's renewed attention on the state of Nigeria’s health sector—and whether meaningful reform will follow this crisis.