The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called off its 7-day warning strike after reaching a crucial agreement with the federal government. The industrial action, which had caused significant disruption to healthcare services across the country, was suspended after a reconciliation meeting led to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being signed on Friday, August 1, 2025.
The meeting, held at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, produced a 7-point agreement addressing the union’s concerns regarding welfare, professional recognition, and working conditions. The MoU was signed by key officials from NANNM and representatives from the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, and Labour and Employment.
A major breakthrough in the agreement is the government’s commitment to gazette the Nurses’ Scheme of Service, a professional framework approved back in 2016. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been tasked with expediting this process in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, with a follow-up timeline of four weeks. Gazetting this document is expected to provide long-awaited clarity and professional recognition for nurses in the public service.
Furthermore, the government agreed to several new and enhanced professional allowances for nurses. These include:
- A 30% consolidated shift duty allowance.
- A 20% annual specialist allowance.
- An increase in the uniform allowance to ₦300,000 per annum.
- A 4% consolidated call duty allowance.
- A 35% teaching allowance.
- The introduction of new allowances to compensate for excess workload, burnout, and retention.
 has suspended its 7-day strike after the federal government agreed to gazette the Nurses’ Scheme of Service and approve new professional allowances.){kind=link}