The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has appealed to the Federal Government to address the association’s demands with utmost urgency.

The National President of the association, Michael Nnachi, made the appeal at a news conference after its meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Nnachi said that it became necessary for the Federal Government to look into the demands of NANNM with utmost urgency to avert industrial crisis.

He listed some of the pressing needs of the association as re-opening of nurses and midwives certificate verification portal, payment of salaries of staff of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Others are the constitution of the board, creation of special nurses’ salary structure and immediate review of nurses’ peculiar professional allowances.

He appealed to the Federal Government to address the demands before the expiration of the 15-day ultimatum issued during the association’s National Executive Council meeting in August.

He said that meeting the demands would cushion the effects of excruciating socio-economic hardship, as well as reduce brain drain in the nursing sector.

Mr Nnachi also called on the Federal Government to create a full-fledged department of nursing services at the Federal Ministry of Health.

He said that gazetting of nurses scheme of services as approved in 2016 was also crucial.

He said, “We also appeal for a NANNM representation at the board level of tertiary health institutions. We appealed for provision of functional equipment at various health facilities, centralisation of internship posting for graduate nurses and employment of nursing personnel.”

He also appealed for consultancy for members of West African postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery and other welfare packages for nurses and midwives.

(NAN)