Nurses in Ondo State have begun an indefinite strike across all state-owned hospitals, citing the government’s failure to address their concerns. The strike was announced by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) during a press conference in Akure on Thursday.
Felix Orobode, the NANNM Chairman, expressed dissatisfaction with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration for neglecting nurses’ welfare despite their vital role in the healthcare system. He highlighted that the state government has not honored previous agreements regarding salary adjustments and welfare improvements.
Orobode pointed out that although a minimum wage of N73,000 was approved, the salary adjustments for nurses under the CONHESS structure were inconsistent, prompting the association to reject the implementation.
“Since 2023, we have engaged in discussions with the government, but our demands have largely gone unaddressed. These include lateral conversions for nurses with degrees, uniform allowances, payment of promotion arrears, and improved working conditions,” he stated.
Despite an agreement on a new salary structure set for January 2025, Orobode noted that nurses received their salaries based on the old salary table, disregarding the established agreement.
After an emergency meeting, the association’s executive council resolved to withdraw services indefinitely starting at midnight on January 31, 2025, until their demands are fully met. This strike has effectively paralyzed medical services in all state government hospitals across the 18 local government areas.
Efforts to elicit a response from the state government regarding the strike have been unsuccessful. Recently, Governor Aiyedatiwa dismissed commissioners from the State Executive Council, indicating potential governmental upheaval.
