By Adeyinka Adeniran
Nurses and Midwives working at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan have embarked on a 7day warning strike to press home their demands from the Federal Government.
The decision was in compliance with the directive from the National leadership of the workers.
Rising from an emergency Congress which held at the Nurse Lounge of the hospital, the nurses and midwives under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, UCH Chapter, Ibadan said the nurses saw the need to align with the directive in the interest of the workers.
Many of the nurses who had earlier reported for duties, Wednesday morning were seen returning to their duty post, with a resolve to remove their uniform and return home.
Singing solidarity songs and chanting jubilanty, the nurses and midwives were heard chorusing and aligning with the plight of the workers which according to them requires urgent attention.
Speaking with The Nation, shortly after the Congress, the State Chairman, Comrade Olufunmilola Familu said the demand of the Association include employment of more nursing personnel and provision of adequate facilities for the various hospitals and health institutions, demand for directorate cadre for nurses at the Federal Ministry of Health amongst others.
She said, “Our conclusion is that we are commencing the 7-day warning strike, as directed by the National Headquarters of the Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, consequent upon which the federal government did not accede to our demands. So we are commencing the 7-day warning strike.
“Our demands include: employment of more nursing personnel and provision of adequate facilities for our various hospitals and various institutions.
“We want a directorate cadre for nurses at the Federal Ministry of Health. We want fair representation of the association at the Federal Ministry of Health. We want consultancy for nurses and midwives, gazetting of the nurses scheme as established by the NCE in 2016, and then centralisation of internship training for nurses. We also want a review of the allowances for nurses and midwives.”
Speaking about the implication of the strike on the patients, the Chairman said, “sadly, we are so concerned about our patients because we do not intend to leave our patients there on the ward stranded without our care. Nurses provide compassionate, competent care across all settings.
“It is rather sad that we have to recourse to this, but we have no choice. We appeal to our patients, our clients, that this is a just cause that we are fighting for.
“Nurses are the only ones that are embarking on the strike, so there are other healthcare professionals on ground to attend to any emergency.
“The strike commenced officially at 12 midnight on the 29th of July, 2025 nationwide.”
She however added that, if the demands are not met at the expiration of the 7days, the leadership of the Association will again enagge the government on possible mwans of resolving the matter.
She however warned that, “if our demands have not been met, we will issue a 21-day ultimatum and proceed from there to an indefinite strike.”
