THE National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called on government at all levels to include nurses in policy formulation and governance in the country.
The National President of the association, Alani Adeniji, made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta at the official launch of a book: “Unionism and Professionalism in Nursing’’ written by Isaiah Owoeye, a registered nurse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book was written in honour of the heroic legacy of the pioneer General Secretary of NANNM, Oba Moses Olabode, the Omala of Imala land.
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Imala is located in Oke Ogun Local Government Area of Ogun.
Adeniji said that nurses deserved good remuneration for their excellent services, just as they deserved good and safe working conditions.
He said: “Nurses deserve the respect and regard of all; we are at a time in history when some of the gains of unionism are under threat.
“We should all play our roles in the survival and support of the ideas and ideals of unionism for the dividends of economic growth and development.
“We must endeavour to imbibe these same values if we want to truly represent and honour the legacy of our icon,’’ Adeniji said.
According to him, the profession is one which should be celebrated with respect and regards.
While showering encomium on the monarch, he called on the nurses to imbibe his values and virtues of the traditional ruler to achieve their set goals.
Also speaking, the State Chairperson of the association, Roseline Solarin, appealed to the state government to pay all the deductions and contributory pension due to the nurses in its payroll.
She said that “this is the proof of evaluatioN, hence the need for government to fulfil its promises.“
One of the highpoints at the occasion was the blessing of the Omala of Imala land who attained 80 years, by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Oba Adeyemi extolled the virtues of the nursing profession, saying that everyone in his or her lifetime would at one point need the services of a nurse.
He thanked the nurses as well as those who represented the six geopolitical zones at the event for celebrating one of their own.
The book, which was reviewed by Prof. Prisca Adejumo, has six chapters which talked about the life and times of the monarch as a nurse.
Adejumo, who is the Head of Nursing Department, University of Ibadan, disclosed that the book contained “explosive stories of the struggle of the Nigeria Nurses.
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