Oyo nurses suspend nine-week-old strike

The Oyo State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) on Tuesday announced the suspension of its indefinite strike which lasted nine weeks.

This development was contained in a letter signed by the NANNM Oyo State secretary, Mr Aina Emmanuel and chairman, Mr Adeyemi Samuel, which was addressed to the Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Oyo State, dated July 23, 2024.

As contained in the letter, the NANNM approved the suspension of the strike for a period of one month, to afford the state government the opportunity to implement what has been approved in relation to its agitations.

The letter directed nurses and midwives across the state to resume at their duty posts from Wednesday.

The correspondence, titled ‘Suspension of Indefinite Strike,’ read: “We write to inform you that following the commitments of the state government to attend to our demands, the leadership of NANNM Oyo State Council has approved for suspension our indefinite strike for one month. This is to allow for the implementation of the remaining approved agitations.

“In light of the above, all our members across the state have been directed to resume back to their duty from Wednesday, 24th July 2024.

“We are optimistic that you will not relent in your efforts in meeting all our demands. While thanking you for your efforts in addressing all our demands, please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

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The strike which began on May 22 was to press home their demand for mass recruitment of nurses and midwives/nurse educators into hospitals management board, Primary Health Care Board, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso and Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Other agitations were for the correction of the wrong notional date on the promotional letter issued to its members, adoption and implementation of 25 per cent CONMESS adjustment circular for nurses and midwives working with Oyo State Government, financial implementation of 2018 to 2022 promotion for nurses and midwives working in LAUTECH teaching hospital, Ogbomoso.

The NANNM also directed its members to down tools overpayment of withheld January/February 2011 salaries to the nurses that are yet to be paid, payment of uniform allowance to all nurses and midwives in the service of Oyo State in line with public service rules.

Also demanded are the call for adoption and implementation of enhanced hazard allowances for nurses and midwives working in LAUTECH teaching hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State College of Nursing, Eleyele-Ibadan, Oyo State College of Health Technology, Eleyele-Ibadan and Primary Health Care Development Board/LGA, adoption and implementation of lateral conversion/career progression for nurses and midwives on GL12 and above that have possessed degree certificate in Nursing Sciences.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE