Nurses Decry Government Neglect
Nurses in Ondo State, under the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), have announced an indefinite strike beginning Friday, January 31, 2025. The decision follows prolonged grievances over poor welfare and the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon salary adjustments. Speaking in Akure on Thursday, the state chairman of NANNM, Felix Orobode, expressed frustration over the government’s perceived neglect of nurses’ contributions to healthcare.
Rising Workload and Injustice in Salary Structure
Orobode emphasized the heavy workload nurses face across Ondo’s 18 local government areas, performing multiple roles due to shortages. Many nurses act as doctors, pharmacists, and administrative staff, filling gaps in understaffed hospitals. Despite their dedication to patient care, the government has not updated their salaries as previously agreed, worsening financial difficulties.
Salary Disparities and Broken Promises
NANNM reports the government approved N73,000 minimum wage in 2024, but nurses’ salary structure remains inconsistent under CONHESS. While other healthcare workers received wage adjustments in July 2024, nurses were excluded from the updates. Orobode stated that a new salary structure was agreed for January 2025, but the government paid nurses under the outdated scale.
Nurses Demand Immediate Action
Expressing their disappointment, the association accused the government of insensitivity towards their plight. Following an emergency State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, NANNM resolved to embark on the indefinite strike. “We have been taken for granted for too long. As a result, we are withdrawing our services from 12 a.m. on January 31, 2025, until our demands are met,” the association declared in a statement.
Potential Crisis in Ondo’s Healthcare Sector
The strike will severely impact healthcare services, disrupting public hospitals and health centers already struggling with staff shortages. The ‘Japa’ syndrome, which has caused mass healthcare worker departures, will worsen with these disruptions. Nurses demand fair treatment, potentially leaving patients requiring critical care without support during the ongoing strike.
Calls for Dialogue and Resolution
Tensions rise as healthcare stakeholders urge the Ondo State government to urgently engage with the striking nurses. Residents worry prolonged strikes could disrupt healthcare delivery, stressing the need for swift intervention. As the strike begins, attention shifts to the government’s response to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy.
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