The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), on Saturday, announced the suspension of its seven-day nationwide warning strike.

This was disclosed in a circular titled, “suspension of the ongoing nationwide nurses’ strike,” issued by NANNM national president, Haruna Mamman, and general secretary, T.A. Shettima.

The suspension by NANNM followed a virtual emergency meeting of its national executive council, after an extensive review of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the federal government and the agreed timeline for implementation of their demands.

The circular read, “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the federal government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.

It added, “In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect. NEC has directed the national leadership to continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.”

“State councils are directed to mobilize members for the immediate resumption of duty. NEC resolved that no member of NANNM, including intern and locum nurses, should be victimized for participating in the nationwide strike.”

Appreciating the commitment and solidarity of members during the mass action, NANNM’s NEC vowed to remain steadfast in defending the welfare, dignity, and professional rights of all nurses and midwives in the country.

The engagement, which held on Friday, involved NANNM officials, representatives of the federal ministry of health and social welfare, ministry of labour and employment, office of the head of the civil service of the federation, office of the accountant general, national salaries, incomes and wages commission, and other relevant stakeholders.

The association embarked on the mass action to agitate for the implementation of their demands, which included: the upward review of shift and uniform allowances, introduction of separate salary structure for nurses, increase in core duty allowance, mass recruitment of nursing personnel, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department within the federal ministry of health, among others.