By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA, – The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike, which was originally scheduled to last until next Tuesday. The decision was announced on Saturday, following a virtual meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
Chidi Aligwe, NANNM’s Assistant Secretary-General, confirmed the development, stating, “The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately.”
The suspension comes after a day of public confusion, where the union had disclaimed an earlier statement from the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammad Pate, that the industrial action had been called off.
A circular confirming the suspension, signed by NANNM’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, acknowledged the “positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM.” The circular directed all members to return to work immediately and warned against any victimization of nurses who participated in the strike.
Some of the union’s key demands included an upward review of allowances, a separate salary structure for nurses, mass recruitment, and the establishment of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.
The NEC resolved to suspend the strike after an extensive review of a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a time-bound implementation framework, which was reached during a meeting with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, and other relevant government bodies.