The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Oyo chapter, says the strike its members embarked upon on Tuesday will be indefinite.

Chairman of NANNM in Oyo, Samuel Adeyemi, stated this in an interview in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Mr Adeyemi said that the striking nurses had been agitating since 2019 but had refused to go on strike based on their understanding and the nature of their training.

Rather, he said they had been patiently writing and negotiating with Governor Seyi Makinde’s government representatives, but all to no avail.

“We recently concluded that the state government is taking our humility and gentility for stupidity. So we have now decided to go on indefinite strike till our demands are met,” he said.

According to him, the association’s demands include urgent mass recruitment of nurses and midwives and correction of the wrong notional date on the promotion letters of members that were due in 2017/2018.

Mr Adeyemi said one of the demands was the adoption and implementation of lateral conversion/career progression for nurses in the state, as obtained in all other states.

He said the association also demanded payment of withheld 2011 salary arrears to its members, which, he said, had been paid to others.

He stated, “We also demand the adoption and implementation of hazard allowance for nurses at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Primary Health Care Board, College Of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Technology and OYSHIA.

“We want the financial implementation of 2018 to 2022 promotion of members at LAUTECH, payment of a uniform allowance for all nurses in Oyo State and adoption and implementation of 25 per cent CONHESS adjustment for the nurses.”

The NANNM chair added, “There are circulars and documents in support of all the agitations. The governor of Oyo state is a passionate and compassionate person with a listening ear. He is absolutely concerned about the welfare and good living of the entire citizens.

“But it is the administrators, those managing, interpreting and implementing laws and policies to suit their purposes, that are the reason behind our indefinite strike.”

(NAN)