Oyo State Nurses Threaten Indefinite Strike, Gives 14-day Ultimatum

The Oyo State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has sternly warned of an impending indefinite strike if authorities fail to address their demands within 14 working days.

In a letter directed to Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday, May 2, 2024, the council articulated its stance, which was reached following a deliberation at its state executive council meeting on Tuesday. The discussions centred on the critical issues affecting the welfare and advancement of nurses employed by the state government.

The message, titled ‘Notification of 14-day ultimatum,’  was signed by the councilman, Adeyemi Samuel, and the Secretary, Aina Emmanuel. It out’ined a series of demands.

These include rectifying staff shortages, correcting erroneous promotion dates on official documents, and implementing the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure.

Furthermore, the nurses insist on the adoption and execution of lateral conversion/career progression protocols for Nurses and Midwives ranked GL12 and above who possess degrees in Nursing Sciences.

They also called for the release of salaries withheld in January/February 2011 to affected nurses and the provision of uniform allowances to all nurses and midwives by public service regulations.

The request, effective May 2, 2024, extends until May 21, 2024. Should their demands remain unmet, the nurses plan to commence an indefinite strike from midnight Wednesday, May 22.

This move comes amidst a broader healthcare crisis in Nigeria, characterized by a significant exodus of healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives.

Factors such as inadequate compensation, rising insecurity, insufficient diagnostic infrastructure, unfavourable working conditions, and economic challenges contribute to this trend of nurses leaving the country searching for greener pastures. This increases the workload for remaining nurses, thereby intensifying the strain on an already overwhelmed healthcare system.

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