Nurses at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo State, have begun a total seven-day warning strike, refusing to attend to any patient, no matter the condition. The nurses, under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), said their action follows years of being ignored by the Federal Government.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, Mr. Coker Oluwasegun, Secretary of the NANNM chapter, confirmed full participation in the strike, adding that the nurses are fed up with poor treatment, low allowances, and lack of basic work tools. He clarified that their action is not against the management of FMC Owo, which had been properly informed of the strike.
According to Oluwasegun, nurses receive only ₦20,000 annually as a uniform allowance—a figure that has remained unchanged for over 20 years. He also noted that nurses are the backbone of the health sector but receive the least support in terms of pay and working conditions.
He criticized the government for failing to fulfill previous promises, stating that the strike would last for seven days. If their 12-point demands remain unmet, they plan to issue a 21-day ultimatum, after which an indefinite strike would follow.
